Microsoft introduces Windows Sandbox, a new feature for Windows 10 that takes care of unsafe applications

[Angrry.exe™]

New application obtained from a web site found on the internet. What to do? A simple click on the executable file can trigger a real nightmare, risking personal files on the hard drive and running the PC properly.

Contrary to expectations, the mere presence of an antivirus program installed and operational on the PC does not guarantee the safe use of any downloaded application on the net, the emergence of new malware not documented in antivirus signature archives, which may spoil commercial security solutions. In such situations, the only option for testing unsafe applications was using a "sacrifice" PC or installing Windows 10 in a "virtual machine," using one of the virtualization solutions available free of charge or contraction. None of the variants is available to standard users, isolation of applications from the main OS installed on the PC requiring a rather advanced level of knowledge for PC operation.

Microsoft comes to solve this problem by introducing Windows Sandbox, a free feature available exclusively on systems running Windows 10 Pro.

 
The only 100MB application simulates a temporary Windows installation, completely isolated from the main operating system. Applications running Sandbox can be installed normally and tried out until we can see if they are useful or not. Data and changes made by that application are only temporary, with any trace erased after the Sandbox closure.

Microsoft does not detail exactly what the Windows Sandbox limitations are, but it is possible that the saving and loading of files on the hard disk is somehow restricted. At the same time, Microsoft is expected to take action to prevent the abuse of applications requiring the acquisition of a license by repeatedly opting for activation of the test mode.

Windows Sandbox functionality will be available starting with Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise, build 18301 or later.