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OfflineI was going to download and install the new Sandboxie release tonight. It now supports windows 7, 64bit. But then I saw that there was a "Notes about 64bit edition" page.
I went to the page and read it. After taking two asprin for the headach I got reading the page, because of my inability to understand what I was reading, I found myself left with a question.
Is installing this version worth having? Or is it just going to make my computer crash? Or does all that other stuff they're talking about fix the stuff that doesn't work? Or maybe it's time to forget about Sandboxie and try something else?
I'm wondering if some of you with more tech knowlege than me could take a look at the page, then give me your opinion.
The page is at: http://www.sandboxie.com/index…..BitEdition
Thank you!
OfflineHey there, Wheezer! I used to use Sandboxie, but a couple of years ago switched to Geswall (http://www.gentlesecurity.com/). It, too, virtualises the browser. I find it preferable to Sandboxie. You can set the security level on it. It really is a set and forget program. I have mine set at the medium level and there has never been a problem. If I download anything it is automatically sandboxed, no matter what the file size. If I am happy with it, I just copy and paste the file to take it out of the virtualisation. I noticed recently that it is also protecting UTorrent – so anything that I download via UTorrent is also automatically sandboxed (that has been a recent development). You can choose to run your browser protected or unprotected, whatever suits. But it's definitely worth a look as an alternative to Sandboxie.
OfflineMs. Ozzie.
Which version of GeSWALL are you using? Freeware or Pro.?
I could not find any comparison of the two on the GentleSecurity website – do you know advantages/drawbacks between them.?
Hope this does not keep you from your tome-work. 
LOL
OfflineWheezer – maybe this will help…
Basically, 64-bit versions of Vista (service pack 1) and Win7 are "natively" more secure than the 32-bit versions. In 64-bit versions, the kernel (the heart of any OS) is more protected from tampering.
Programs like Sandboxie were originally designed to work by inserting code that can "watch" other code into the kernel. 64-bit windows does not allow this; in fact, it sees it as malicious behavior and crashes the computer.
So Sandboxie has done some work-arounds that are not perfect because some programs could possibly communicate outside of the sandbox.
One thing that the webpage does mention is that some Win7 flavors (Pro and Ultimate) have the ability to run programs in XP compatiblity mode. So in this case, if you really want to use Sandboxie and want the more total protection that the 32-bit version offers, you can download and install the 32-bit version and set it up to run in XP-compatibility mode (right click on the program and the compatibility mode is somewhere in the Properties.
OfflineWheezer said:
I was going to download and install the new Sandboxie release tonight. It now supports windows 7, 64bit. But then I saw that there was a "Notes about 64bit edition" page.
I went to the page and read it. After taking two asprin for the headach I got reading the page, because of my inability to understand what I was reading, I found myself left with a question.
Is installing this version worth having? Or is it just going to make my computer crash? Or does all that other stuff they're talking about fix the stuff that doesn't work? Or maybe it's time to forget about Sandboxie and try something else?
The page is at: http://www.sandboxie.com/index…..BitEdition
Thank you!
Hi Wheezer!
The 2 aspirins were fully justified;
There are 2 reasons:-


Wheezer Sandboxie should definitely not be used on your Win7 64 bit machine. Having answered you, let me know throw out the jargons & explain. 
Simple Stuff:-
It provides a lousy barricade in your context aka Win7 64bit. *Therefore avoid Sandboxie totally like you would avoid plague*. Again "simple stuff explanation":-
So now what to do. 2 solutions:- 
This is preferrable orDon't get carried away by nearby well meaning friends telling you that Win7 64 bit is a clever bloke who has a hopper which can hop from 64 bit apps to a 32 bit apps & back based upon a feature functionality. The best proof I can offer is even the US govt still uses WinXp. Even if no one else is smart the govt always is. Mind you they hadn't shifted to Vista either
OS "hopping between 32 bit & 64 bit" is better avoided for now till the OS stabilizes worldwide.
That's my suggestion dear friend. The humour was to only wipe off the after effects of the 2 aspirins rather than adding to them.
All the best
Ramesh 
OfflineAlanR said:
Ms. Ozzie.
Which version of GeSWALL are you using? Freeware or Pro.?
I could not find any comparison of the two on the GentleSecurity website – do you know advantages/drawbacks between them.?
Hope this does not keep you from your tome-work.
LOL
Hi AlanR! I use the freeware version. It does the job. I know I saw a comparison somewhere, but alas the "tome work" (brilliant!) means I can't search for it right now. Basically the Pro version enables you to protect a range of different things on your comp, rather than just your broswer. I will endeavour to find the exact list later on. But as I said, the freeware works just fine for my needs.
OfflineKaren, I like your explanation. That's what I was looking for. Altho I got the impression that running it on my system probably wouldn't be the best thing to do. Which is ok, better to find out now than later.
I want the protection, but not a crashing computer.
I read Ozzie's suggestion, but when I went to the GeSWall site and read about it, I found myself wondering if it is really a vertualization program. I got the impression that it just watches the changes made to a computer and then un-does them if there is a problem.
If I'm right, that deosn't sound like protection. Because if a program has access to the inner workings, why couldn't it plant something in there that would alow it to work around GeSWall?
So now I'm wondering if Returnil (free version) might be a better way to go? From what I read in Ashraf's articles it sounds pretty good.
What-cha-think?
And if I'm wrong about GeSWall, please let me know.
(Karen & Ozzie: Check your PM)
Offline
In my opinion, Sandboxie on a 64bit machine is still a great security layer as opposed to having no restriction or sandboxing especially for browsers. Just harden your sandbox settings so that only the programs that you want will run and have internet access. If enumerating all the programs one by one sounds a bit tedious, you can go to sandbox settings > restrictions > start/run access and add "*.exe" , minus the quotes. That setting basically places a restriction that only programs on the machine will run and not malware that is accidentally downloaded inside the sandbox through your browsing.
With regards to GesWall, I believe they don't have a 64bit version just yet. DefenseWall doesn't have one as well so for now you're limited to either use Sandboxie 64 or not.
@Wheezer
GesWall is policy virtualization and is not as transparent as Sandboxie is i.e. with Sandboxie, the file changes can be viewed by simply going to the sandbox folder and browsing its contents.
With GesWall, you launch a program under its supervision and it runs with very limited rights. Say you launch and surf with your browser, the cache and downloaded files are exactly where they're supposed to be but is monitored by GesWall which limits what they can do on your pc.
OfflineWheezer – I'm not sure how much more help I can be. I've never used Sandboxie, GesWall, ReturnNil, etc. I'm not sure how they compare to each other or the differences in their technologies.
I just use a "naked" browser to surf the net. Well, I do have the native Win7 firewall, Avira Pro, and run AdBlock Plus and NoScript with FF3.6. So maybe a partially clothed browser.
If you really want to be safe, use either a virtual OS (see Locutus's blog posts on using VirtualBox) or even a Live CD (i.e., bootable) linux flavor.
Offlinekaren said:
Wheezer – I'm not sure how much more help I can be. I've never used Sandboxie, GesWall, ReturnNil, etc. I'm not sure how they compare to each other or the differences in their technologies.
I just use a "naked" browser to surf the net. Well, I do have the native Win7 firewall, Avira Pro, and run AdBlock Plus and NoScript with FF3.6. So maybe a partially clothed browser.
If you really want to be safe, use either a virtual OS (see Locutus's blog posts on using VirtualBox) or even a Live CD (i.e., bootable) linux flavor.
Ramesh
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