Sandboxie Acquired by Invincea

Of course not for all scenarios but many common ones, specially home and student users.
I have implemented SBIE in 25 computers (yes, I keep a record) now and their users owners feedback good and positive results.

 

And I have NOT implemented SBIE on many dozen computers (and I keep records too) I am responsible for (family and business client systems), including students and home users, SOHO users, and corporate systems too. And for years, NO infections either!

Why? Because part of my normal routine as the family, friend, and neighbor go-to computer guy, as well as a computer consultant contracted to support business systems, I teach my family, friends, neighbors and clients "practicing safe computing". That is,

Keep your operating system current,
Keep your anti-malware solution current,
Stay away from illegal pornography and gambling sites,
Avoid illegal filesharing through torrents and P2P sites,
Scan removable storage devices,
Don't be "click-happy" on unsolicited downloads, links, attachments, and popups. ​

I like to say you don't need a Abrams Tank to drive around in to remain safe. You just need a relatively current car that is properly maintained, and most importantly, you need to drive defensively.

If your friend was regularly getting infected, then she clearly was not disciplined, or driving defensively. Yes, that is indeed a good testament if SBIE protected her for that year. But that again does not suggest that everybody needs SBIE.

 

Oh, that's just silly. If we never made mistakes, we would not need any security programs. I thought this was going to be a mature debate free of puerile personal insults.
I'm out of here.

 

Not only he and his family but everyone he knows. Just knowing Bill makes the difference

Bo.

 

And Bill, the truth of the matter remains the same, if you are a Sandboxie user, you dont have to install another program to protect yourself from malicious flash drives as those users can use SBIE for that. Doing so is more effective than .....Windows defender, other antiviruses, that will always fail.when the malware catches up with them as they dont have the required update thats needed to protect against an specific piece malware. It always happens.

Bo

 

I think it's fair to say Wilders' forums are for a niche audience. I don't think the average user comes to forums like this. Here we find people who work in the IT industry whether it be in organisations or a computer repair shop or take IT seriously in their line of work, and we also have users who test malware against one or more products. Some users play around with various programs for fun as a hobby. Quite a mixed bag.

I said in another thread I used to use Sandboxie mostly for testing PUAs in the days when it was a grey area. I can see its value as it doesn't matter if you get infected because it is contained and once the process is terminated, it is gone. I guess this is similar to when using virtualisation software. I have no need to use Sandboxie at this present time though as I don't have time for testing and my browsing habits dictate I don't need such protection.

Most people here are interested in computer security to a lesser or greater degree. Some take it more seriously than others. I have seen users who add multiple security programs to the point some users question whether they're being paranoid and if they really need all that. On the flip side, there are those who use minimal applications and yet manage to stay secure.

As I have said previously, it does depend on what you do online and how things are managed. Education is key and if we can help some users with a reasonable setup that suits the situation, we can rest assured they remain safe. I don't think there's any clear right or wrong in any of this but whatever works best for a given case has to be applauded.

 

Wow! So my family is accused of "never" making mistakes. Then the entire anti-malware industry is accused of "always" failing because it "always" happens that malware catches up because it "always" happens users don't have the required update. Wow.

So clearly, everybody in the world who is not using Sandboxie is already infected either because it will "always" happen or "their machines comes already infected".

I think it is fair to say most "regular" responders here have the expertise you noted.

But many OPs are normal users who come to forums like this seeking advice. And many came here simply because Bing Google sent them here.

Wilders is not a forum primarily for experts as you suggest. It is for all users from novices to the advanced professional.

I note I got started in this discussion from the simple question in that other thread, "Do most of us who use machines connected to the 'net really need a separate program to protect us from malware hiding on USB devices?" Are you, Tony, going to side with bo and Peter and say "yes"? That is, that everybody needs Sandboxie?

 

I'm not going to side with anybody. I can only speak from my experience and that is I have never used a program like Sandboxie to protect me when using USB devices. I have one such device and my Macrium backups are stored on there but the device is ejected when the backup is completed. In other words, it is always off until I do a backup. As I said in another thread, no-one shares USB sticks with me so it isn't applicable there either.

 

Hi Tony, I ll try to make this post short as it could get to be pages. My security setup:

Sandboxie
NoScript

I started using those 2 programs days apart in very early 2009. Before, I used to get infected once or twice a year every year. I used antiviruses, spend hours and hours doing scans day after day, was very carefully where I browsed, kept the system up to date and did most of the things SuperBill wrote in post 4355, but even so, still got infected. Same 2 or 3 infections every year. It was a cycle.

Since early 2009, no more infections. None. Not only that but my computing experience is so much better as I don't have to spend or waist anytime doing scans. Now I have more time to do the things I actually like doing when I am using the internet and the computer. Instead of doing scan, I do what I like. Thank you Sandboxie and NoScript.

I tell you a funny thing. My browsing habits if anything is different, is even more dangerous now than before as before, I was very careful where I went but now I go wherever I want to go and do more dangerous activities than before. It doesnt seem to be so but it is as I do activities that were not available in 2008. Activities that I do everyday. Basically, NoScript cleans webpages, turns the sharks in the internet into sardines. Thats my experience, and then Sandboxie is like a safety net when browsing.

By the way, I read your post yesterday in the thread that Bill hijacked and now again, you talk Sandboxie and sounds like you view SBIE as a browser in a sandbox but Sandboxie is lot more than that. Dont forget, other than isolating your browser and USB drives, you can also isolate all programs and files that run in your computers. To make it real short, basically the only time I am not using SBIE is when the computer is idle or I am doing an update.

Bo

 

Thats also my rule,Tony. I am strict about it. But even so, I use SBIE to isolate USB drives as there is no usability loss or inconvenience.

Bo

 

Fair enough. Thanks.

Another puerile comment. It is sad that is how you feel you need to justify your position that SBIE is needed because other AV programs will always fail. If you look again at what I said, , I said, for the "many dozens of computers I am responsible for".

Do I know people who have been infected? Of course. You don't own a computer repair shop and consulting business and don't know people who have been infected.

Right! The thread you submitted no less than 5 posts to promote Sandboxie. And I hijacked it? Yeah right.

 

You can try changing my words but it wont work. If you read my 1st post in the other thread (intended to be my only post), I clearly said, if you are using Sandboxie, you dont have to install another program as you can use it to isolate your USB drives, I also said, my best protection was not sharing flash drives. And NEVER said everybody needs Sandboxie.

Bo

 

And still doing it. I read your posts there from this morning and you are the Colonel, you view yourself as the boss.

Bo

 

Thank you bo for your post and I do understand everything you've said. I have used Sandboxie in the past to sandbox browsers and isolate files such as you suggested. I did the latter when testing out a few programs that some AVs marked as PUA/PUPs but others didn't. This was in the days when PUAs were beginning to become classified more and I helped to get a number of programs marked down as such with the likes of Prevx. That's another story but it was an interesting time. I'm not able to dedicate as much time now to that sort of testing these days, unfortunately.

I do realise and appreciate Sandboxie can be used for far more than just isolating the browser. However, I'm not using that program, or anything similar, to do any of those things at this present time.

 

I based that on YOUR WORDS above,

And you said that to contradict my claim - which is that we don't need a separate programs for those USB devices. So it does not matter what your first post said. What matters is everything you said.

Now since I have repeatedly said Sandboxie is great program, and never suggested otherwise, and you want to continue to argue some point that does not apply, I will leave you to do that on your own.

 

Tony, I realize Sandboxie is not for everyone. In my case, I made it the largest piece of my computing experience but that doesn't mean I expect everyone to adopt it. Over the years, I come to realize that some people get offended by my enthusiasm for SBIE but there is nothing I can do about it other than censor myself. And I wont do that. I discovered Sandboxie on my own but searching about it, led me to Wilders and to the people who were talking SBIE at the time. Thanks to them and their posts, my computer experience changed for the best. For the past few years, I am one of the users whose posts people find when they google Sandboxie, and I am glad I am able to tell my story.

Bo

 

I discovered Sandboxie right here on Wilders at the time I was thinking about how I could help and report rogue programs. After reading the posts on Wilders, I discovered and learnt about Sandboxie's ability to isolate programs and files. During that testing period, I found it to be very invaluable.

I'm sure the stories you've told and the help you have given to others about this program have been appreciated. Thank you.

 

For me, discovering Sandboxie was huge. Turning point. I remember, at the end of 2008, it clicked on my head that it was possible to have a free from malware computer experience. To that point in time, I had the notion that getting infected was something that could be minimized but not suppressed, getting infected was irremediable..Discovering and using Sandboxie changed radically for the better my computer experience. I went in a search, people at the time were talking about HIPS, behavior blockers and isolation. It didn't tale long, a day or so after I started my search, I discovered Sandboxie, it attracted me right away. It was the second program I tried and it was a hit. The search was over.

FWIW, thanks to the "free" Sandboxie version, the same version that Bill belittle and knocked was that I tested Sandboxie. If there had not been one available, I certainly would not have tried SBIE or be using it today. So, it was helpful, it gave me a taste of SBIE. After 6 months using SBIE and not getting infected, I knew the program was for real and went for the paid one (to get more out of SBIE).

On the other hand, when I discovered Sandboxie I also discovered DefenseWall, the big box. I also was attracted to it but I went with Sandboxie for the simple reason that it had a free version that did not expire after 30 days. Haters can knock it but is a nice tool, even with the nag screen that pops up once after booting the PC, and no more till next time you reboot or cold start.

Bo

 

To be sure I had no intention of joining this thread and "bothering" you or anyone else! We were directed here by bo's OT Sandboxie promotion campaign in this thread.

Now again I emphasis, I like Sandboxie. I think it is a great program. But the OP's question in that other thread was, "Do most of us ... really need a "separate" program to protect us from malware hiding on USB devices?"

And the answer is no! "Most" of us do not need a "separate" program. That includes Sandboxie.

And for the record, Peter, if you were following this whole issue, you would see that I do indeed have it installed on the system I use in my shop, because I feel it is needed in that scenario and I want it there because that machine is intentionally exposed to unknown threats.

Now I am truly sorry if the claim by me and several others in that other thread (including you, Peter!) that most of us don't need a separate program "bothered" some here who like Sandboxie. That was not my intention and I would very much like to just let it go and move on. Can we do that?

 

Sweet! Thanks.

 

Would SBIE add meaningful value to the Chrome browser (with it's own sandbox) - assuming that is even doable?