Windows 10: Add "Run in Sandbox" options on Windows 10

Run in Sandbox is a useful PowerShell script that Windows 10 administrators may use to add options to run executable files, zip archives, and scripts, in the Windows 10 sandbox.

Microsoft introduced Windows Sandbox in late 2018 as a way for administrators to run content in its own environment to avoid harm or changes to the underlying system. The Windows Sandbox is available in all professional versions of Windows 10 version 1903 or newer, but Windows 10 Home administrators may add it to Home systems as well; check out this guide that explains how to do that.

Run in Sandbox adds shortcuts for various file types to File Explorer on Windows 10. Once installed, all it takes to run a supported file type in the sandbox is to right-click on it and select the "run in sandbox" option from the context menu.

The main requirement for the script is that Windows Sandbox is installed already on the system. You can add the sandbox by searching for "turn Windows features on or off" and checking the "Windows Sandbox" entry in the Control Panel applet that opens. It is likely that this is going to be moved to the Settings app in the future, but for now, it works.



To install Run in Sandbox, do the following:

1. Download the latest version from the developer's GitHub project site, e.g. select Code > Download Zip.
2. Extract the archive on your system and open a File Explorer instance to navigate to the folder.
3. Select File > Open Windows PowerShell > Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator.
4. Run the following commands in the PowerShell prompt and select Y whenever you are prompted.
   1. Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
   2. .\Add_Structure.ps1
   3. Set-ExecutionPolicy AllSigned

The script adds the context menu entries to File Explorer.

Note: When I tested the script on an English Windows 10 Pro version 2004 system, I noticed that it added French menu entries instead of English ones; this is probably a bug but easy enough to understand.



Run in Sandbox supports PS1, VBS, MSI, and EXE file types at the time of writing. The script creates a WSB file when you select the Run in Sandbox option from the context menu and the sandbox will be launched automatically afterwards.

Scripts, PS1 and VBS, display two context menu entries instead of one. The first runs the script without any parameters, the second allows you to add parameters.

Closing Words


Run in Sandbox is a useful tool for system administrators, software testers, and other users who like to execute content in a safe environment. While that is also supported by third-party applications like Sandboxie, it is not always allowed to run these in work environments. The Windows Sandbox offers a way out.

Now You: do you use a sandbox application? (via Deskmodder)

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Add "Run in Sandbox" options on Windows 10 appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

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windows sandbox Not working

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



There is a possibility that the feature is corrupted or not set up properly. I would advise you to disable Windows Sandbox first and then enable it. Please follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Open Control Panel.
   
2. Then click on all Control Panel Items.
   
3. Then click on Programs and features.
   
4. Then on the left hand side, click on Turn Windows features on or off.
   
5. Then uncheck the option: Windows Sandbox.
   
6. Then restart your computer.
   
7. After restart, please enable it and check if the sandbox is working.
   

Also make sure that you meet all the requirements for Windows Sandbox.

Regards,

 

Microsoft sandbox stoped working

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



Please be informed that our developer team is aware of the issues with Sandbox and is working on resolving it. We do not have an ETA as of now, however I encourage you to send a feedback to our developer team via
Feedback hub. As a suggestion you can try disabling and enabling
the sandbox to check if that works. Please follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Open Control Panel.
   
2. Then click on all Control Panel Items.
   
3. Then click on Programs and features.
   
4. Then on the left hand side, click on Turn Windows features on or off.
   
5. Then uncheck the option: Windows Sandbox.
   
6. Then restart your computer.
   
7. After restart, please enable it and check if the sandbox is working.
   

Also make sure that you meet all the requirements for Windows Sandbox.
Your patience and understanding will be appreciated in this matter.



Regards

 

QUESTION: MS Word 2013 - Possible to run PORTABLE + SANDBOXED?

Dear Members:

FYI: I have annotated #Bo.Elam notes to improve visual acuity to facilitate my study and implementation.
I hope these may proves helpful to anyone else interested in these excellent recommendations and instructions from Bo.

Positively,~ Alan

P.S. Please forgive excess vertical spacing between paragraphs... does NOT provide WYSWYG formatting control.



QUESTION: MS Word 2013 - Possible to run PORTABLE + SANDBOXED?

Post - » 27 Jun 2018 at 03:23 PM

• Would it be possible to provide explicit instructions as a reference...
• How to create a dedicated sandbox for Libre

Post - bo.elam » 27 Jun 2018 at 09:59 PM [annotated by AB]

• To create a new sandbox
• go to Sandboxie control>Sandbox>Create new sandbox >
• in the screen that opens... option to name the new sandbox as you wish.
• Since this sandbox is going to be your dedicated Libre Office sandbox, name it Libre.
• You also have the option to either copy settings from existing sandboxes or not to >
• choose None.

• The sandbox you created comes with default settings.
• In a default settings sandbox, all programs that attempt to start and run in the sandbox can run... can have access to the internet... have access to all files and folders in your system.

• Next step is to restrict what programs are allowed to do in the sandbox.
• ... new sandbox restrict it as tight as possible without losing any usability... I try to achieve a balance between usability and security and always get it done.
• So, in the end, I am always able to run programs in the sandbox same as if I was not using Sandboxie... If you set a sandbox correctly, the interaction between sandboxed programs and the non sandboxed environment should be flawless.

Libre is:

• very easy to setup to run properly in the sandboxed environment.
• With a few changes to default settings you can set a very secure sandbox for Libre without losing usability.

1. Make soffice.bin a Forced program.

• ... any Office file that runs in the system, will run sandboxed automatically in the Libre Office.
• It makes sandboxing automatic
• No thinking required to sandbox files.

• go to Sandbox settings in your Libre Office sandbox >
• Sandbox settings>Program Start>Forced programs >
• click Add program >
• ... navigate to soffice.bin
• ... select it and add it >
• or you can write it in the block there for that purpose.

2. In this step, you restrict programs that can run.

• Once you add programs in this restriction tab, this will be the only programs allowed to run in the Libre sandbox.
• Any other program that attempts to run, it will be blocked.

For Calc, Writer, Impress, etc, to run in the sandbox, allow:

• soffice.bin
• soffice.exe
• dllhost.exe

• You really dont have to allow dllhost but for a more seamless interaction between SBIE and the non sandboxed system I recommend you allow it to run.

So, go here to add the [3] exes I wrote above:

• Sandbox settings>Restrictions>Start/Run access
• click Add program
• select [3] exes

3. Internet access.
Since you don't need Office files to have access to the internet and Libre doesnt require it to work properly, for security

• disallow all programs from having access to the internet.

• Sandbox settings>Restrictions>Internet access
• click Block all programs
• Once you do this, there is no phoning home.

4. Drop rights. This setting is helpful if you run your system as an Administrator. I do, so I use it.

• This setting strips Administrator rights from programs running in this sandbox.
• So, if something malicious gets to run, it can't install anything in the sandboxed environment.
• Sandbox settings>Restrictions>Drop rights
• click this option.

5. Another important setting you want to implement are the ones that help you protect your sensitive files and folders from being stolen.

• Remember, by default, sandboxed programs can read all files and programs that are in the system.
• So, you want to block sandboxed programs from accessing your sensitive files and folders.
• We already disallowed all programs:
  • that run in the Libre sandbox from having internet access
  • restricted to a few the programs allowed to run
  • so even if your personal files and folders are accessed, the chances an infected Office file steals your files and phone home are close to none.
• But even so, this is a great setting that keeps your files from getting stolen.
  • This setting is more important in sandboxes where you allow access to the internet, like your browsers sandboxes.

To restrict access to files and folders, go here:


Sandbox settings>Resource access>File access>Blocked access

• click Add for navigating to select the files and folders you like to block sandboxed programs from having access/read.

There are other setting related to access but you can start with the one above.


6. Set the sandbox to delete on closing sandboxed programs.

• Sandbox settings>Delete>Delete Invocation
• tick Automatically delete contents of the sandbox

7. Saving files you create or Edit in the sandbox.

• For convenience, you want to be able to save files.
• ... when you delete contents of the sandbox, the only changes that will survive deletion made by sandboxed programs of the sandbox are the ones you allow.
• Like for example, an edit you do to an Excel file...
  • if you would like to save that change, you save it.
  • If you dont want to save the change, you dont save it when you get the SBIE prompt to do it after you close sandboxed programs.

• In my case, I only save Office files to the desktop. So I add Desktop in the tab below.
  • Sandboxie will save files only to the folders you add in Quick recovery:
  • Sandbox settings>Recovery>Quick recovery

​


Thank you again, #bo.elam !