Sandboxie

Sandboxie is a proprietary sandboxing program for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems. It creates an isolated operating environment in which applications can be run or installed without permanently modifying the local or mapped drive. This isolated environment allows controlled testing of untrusted applications and web browsing.

The primary function of Sandboxie is to isolate changes made by software within the sandbox. When a program is run in Sandboxie, it operates as if it is making changes to the real system, but the modifications are instead written to the sandbox's designated directory. This means that any files created, settings altered, or registry keys changed within the sandbox are kept separate from the actual system files.

Once a program is finished running or the user decides to terminate the sandboxed session, they can either discard the contents of the sandbox, effectively undoing all the changes made within it, or they can selectively recover specific files or changes made within the sandbox to the real system.

Sandboxie allows users to run web browsers and other applications in a protected environment, mitigating the risk of malware infections or unwanted system modifications. It has been used for a variety of purposes, including testing new software, safely opening suspicious email attachments, and preventing unwanted changes from web browsing.

After being acquired by Sophos, Sandboxie was later released as a free and open-source software product. This transition enabled continued development and community contributions.