Virtual Box VERSUS Returnil?

Discussion in 'sandboxing & virtualization' started by bellgamin, Sep 2, 2008.

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  1. bellgamin

    bellgamin Registered Member

    Joined:
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    Hawaii
    I was taking a look at the specifications for VirtualBox...

    I am familiar with applications such as Returnil & ShadowUser, where I simply reboot to restore. I am NOT at all familiar with apps such as Virtual Box.

    When comparing a reboot-to-restore app (such as Returnil) VERSUS a "virtualizer" (such as Virtual Box), will someone please explain to me...

    +What are the main differences?

    +Which is better?

    +Which is easier to use?

    +Which is more secure?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    I will be VERY grateful for any help you can give me.
     
    bellgamin, Sep 2, 2008
    #1
  2. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Posts:
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    Hi Bellgamin

    They are apples and oranges.

    Returnil, is at it's heart a boot to restore program

    Virtual box is a virtual machine program.

    Virtual machines are like having a computer with in a computer. For example in my case I use VM ware's Workstation.

    I create a virtual machine, by defining how much memory it has, how many and what size hard drive's it has. I then load an operating system, and other software I want to use. It responds and acts like a real computer. In mine I have all the standard security software I run on my host including programs like Returnil

    Which is better. Depends on what you want to do. In the VM machine like any computer you install software you want to use. I use it to install software I don't want to put on my main computer.

    Which is easier. Probably initially returnil, but both are pretty straight forward.

    Security wise again depends on what you are doing.

    Pete
     
    Peter2150, Sep 2, 2008
    #2
  3. jrmhng

    jrmhng Registered Member

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    Yes they are two different kinds of programs. Programs like returnil virtualise the harddrive only while virtual box does the whole machine. I think in the practical sense, it hardly makes a difference as malware raraly attack virtualization technology (except to check for it and not run to make it harder for malware researchers)
     
    jrmhng, Sep 2, 2008
    #3
  4. Long View

    Long View Registered Member

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    Apr 30, 2004
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    Location:
    Cromwell Country
    slightly OT ?

    with hardware like the Lindy KVM http://tinyurl.com/ypn4y7 I have never tried any of the virtual solutions - better to run 4 real machines with programs like deep freeze, Returnil or better still shadow defender.

    Today old machines are almost being given away and yet a 3.2 ghz P4 with 1 gb of ram still has plenty of life left in it if not loaded down with too many programs. Other older machines plus one decent modern machine all pluged into the same keyboard and monitor and you can have real rather than virtual.
     
    Long View, Sep 2, 2008
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