How to Use Windows Sandbox to Test Suspicious Programs

If you ever encounter a program that you are not sure about, you may want to test it before running it on your main system. However, testing potentially unsafe programs can expose your system to malware, viruses, or other threats. That's where Windows Sandbox comes in. Windows Sandbox is a feature that allows you to run programs in a safe and isolated environment, without affecting your main system. Let's dig in!

What is Windows Sandbox?

Windows Sandbox is a feature that creates a temporary and disposable virtual machine on your system. A virtual machine is software that simulates a computer within your computer. This simply means that you can run programs on the virtual machine as if it was a real computer, but without affecting your main system. If that's not genius then I don't know what is!

Windows Sandbox uses the same operating system and hardware as your main system, but it does not have any of your personal files or settings. Anything you do on Windows Sandbox will be deleted when you close it.

Windows Sandbox is useful for testing potentially unsafe programs, such as unknown downloads, suspicious attachments, or untrusted websites. You can run these programs on Windows Sandbox and see how they behave, without risking your main system's security or performance.

To use Windows Sandbox, you need to have Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise Edition with the May 2019 update or later. You also need to have a processor that supports virtualization and at least 4 GB of RAM and 1 GB of disk space.

Make sure your PC has the above-mentioned required requirements/features before diving in to enable the Windows sandbox.

How to enable Windows Sandbox

To enable Windows Sandbox on your system, you need to follow these steps:

• Open the Start menu and type "Turn Windows features on or off".
• Click on the result and a new window will open.
• Scroll down and find "Windows Sandbox" in the list of features.
• Check the box next to "Windows Sandbox" and click OK.
• Wait for the installation to complete and restart your system.

You may also need to enable virtualization in your BIOS settings. To do this, you need to access your BIOS settings when you start your system. The exact steps may vary depending on your system model and manufacturer, but usually, you need to press a key such as F2, F10, or Delete when you see the logo screen. Then, look for an option called "Virtualization Technology" or "VT-x" and enable it. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.

How to Use Windows Sandbox

To use Windows Sandbox to test potentially unsafe programs, you need to follow these steps:

• Open the Start menu and type "Windows Sandbox".
• Click on the result and a new window will open.
• Drag and drop the program file that you want to test from your main system to the Windows Sandbox window.
• Wait for the program to copy and run on Windows Sandbox.
• Test the program as you wish and observe how it behaves.
• When you are done testing, close the Windows Sandbox window.

Some tips and best practices for using Windows Sandbox effectively are:

• Do not use Windows Sandbox for anything other than testing potentially unsafe programs. Do not use it for personal or work-related tasks, as anything you do on Windows Sandbox will be deleted when you close it.
• Do not copy any sensitive or important files from your main system to Windows Sandbox, as they may be compromised by the program you are testing.
• Do not connect any external devices or network drives to Windows Sandbox, as they may be infected by the program you are testing.
• Do not sign in with any online accounts or enter any personal information on Windows Sandbox, as they may be stolen by the program you are testing.
• Monitor your system's resources while using Windows Sandbox, as it may consume a lot of CPU, RAM, and disk space. If you notice any slowdowns or errors on your main system, close Windows Sandbox immediately.

Windows Sandbox is a handy feature that lets you test suspicious programs in a safe environment. By following these steps and tips, you can use Windows Sandbox effectively and protect your main system from potential threats.