[Privacy/Security] Sandboxie Guide - Run games Sandboxed.

[DownloadAllTheGames]

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Introduction:
Sandboxie is a sandbox-based isolation software for 32- and 64-bit Windows NT-based operating systems. It creates a sandbox-like isolated operating environment in which applications can be run or installed without permanently modifying the local or mapped drive. An isolated virtual environment allows controlled testing of untrusted programs and web surfing.

Why should you use it?
#1: Security - Everything the application does is isolated from the system, this includes file system, registry and other changes applications could possibly/usually make to your system.

Some videos of people opening up viruses/malware inside Sandboxie (Plus):

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As you can see from the videos the yellow border and the [#] in the application top bar it is all running sandboxed. The ransomware videos show that even after killing the process inside the Sandbox nothing has changed on the system itself even after restarting, whereas if you opened it without it you would have the pop-up telling you to pay xxx to get your files unlocked, rendering your computer useless. I'm not advocating that it will block literally 100% but it does a good enough job stopping a lot.

#2: Privacy - After installing Sandboxie Plus, you can change the Container folder (working folder) to a flash drive, so when you start up let's say Trouble in Paradise sandboxed, everything you do in it like creating saves or anything will be saved in the container Folder file directories.

Example: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\RenPy would normally contain all your saved files for games based on the Ren'Py engine. In my case however it is saved to P:\Sandbox\SANDBOXNAME\user\current\appdata\Roaming\RenPy

Where P:\ is my portable drive.



You have two options for running something Sandboxed:
A: Right Click the executable and press Run Sandboxed
B: Set a folder that holds your games that will ALWAYS run Sandboxed.

Personally I have selected option B, I placed the downloaded games in the P:\Games folder:



Regarding settings I've done, they are listed below:

To disable the yellow border which can be annoying as it shows and disappears while doing a mouseover, personally I like to just have the [#] indicator in the title.



To prevent deletion of content inside the Sandbox either automatically or manually I would suggest setting this to prevent your saved data being removed inadvertently:





To open access for Locale Emulator / RPGVXAce runtime files which are used by RPGM games:



EDIT 18-01-2023: I have tested Locale Emulator 2.4.1.0 and 2.5.0.1 on Windows 11 and it works as intended.

To get Locale Emulator to work in the Sandboxed environment, you need to add the Locale Emulator folder to Force Programs under Program Control a few steps back. Then open LEinstaller.exe as admin and click Install for all users. To get the game to work you likely have to Right Click > Locale Emulator > Run In Japanese (Admin).



This is an example of a game running Sandboxed:





Moving over Saved games to Sandbox folder:
This can be a tricky one as saved games are saved in various locations, some are saved in My Documents, some in Appdata\Local, Appdata\LocalLow and others in Appdata\Roaming

So you would have to check the following folder for other engines (mostly):
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local
Secret Care Cafe for example is saved in C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Secret_Care_Cafe

You would have to check the following folder for Unity games:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow
Pizza Hot (Oppai Games folder) and True Bond are examples that are saved in this folder

You would have to check the following folder for Ren'py or other games:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\
There is a RenPy folder containing all your played games including their saves.

You can move the folders to the P:\Sandbox folder in the following directory:
P:\Sandbox\SANDBOXNAME\user\current\appdata

In this folder you will find local/locallow and roaming folders, put the folders you found from the games you played in the same folder as you found them in.
Example: Secret Care Cafe for example is saved in C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Secret_Care_Cafe
move this folder to P:\Sandbox\SANDBOXNAME\user\current\appdata\local\Secret_Care_Cafe

Games in My Documents folder can be moved to P:\Sandbox\SANDBOXNAME\user\current\Documents



Footnote: You're don't have to use this to enjoy your games, but for those that are either worried whatever you download on this site may contain something malicious it is at least an option to feel a lot safer while running these games. Not saying the uploaders will spread malicious software, but an uploader's device or account can be stolen, the site can be defaced with links replaced, better to be safe than sorry I guess?

It will also give you the ability to isolate files created by these games to your portable drive by preventing it from being created in your user folders for anybody to find using your computer.

You can also use Sandboxie Plus as portable application, if you place it on the portable drive you can basically play your F95 games on any Windows device you want without leaving traces of these games on the other person's computer.

You can use Sandboxie Plus for other things aside from running games from this website, for example you can create a separate Sandbox that doesn't block internet and run your browser in it, test software or install software that you don't want to leave remnants on your PC itself.

If you need any help, have comments or tips on how to work with Sandboxie Plus, feel free to add as I'm not necessarily an expert on this matter.



EDIT 10-06-2023:
In some cases RPGM games might not start if you disable Internet Access, doesn't seem to happen to every single one of them but specific titles it might. So if it doesn't work make sure the RTP is installed and Internet Access is not disabled to it. I believe it does work however if you set a rule in your firewall to block internet access.

 

[depechedNode]

I've been using it for a long time and it's a very good tool. I believe this thread will be very helpful, good job.

 

[decadentEcchi]

DownloadAllTheGames How do I move save folders to sandbox folder?

 

[onsen-chinatsu]

Thanks for reminding me of Sandboxie. I know I should have used this a long time ago, but my laziness got the better of me so I just nuke my entire Windows installation every three months or so. With Defender behaving rather too erratically as of late (flagged three .zip files as Trojans two Fridays ago, turned the blind eye to them on the following Saturday even after scanning them more than 10 times, then threw a fit at them being Trojans yet again on the Sunday that followed), I decided to just take an extra step to secure my installation. Easily solves the annoying nitpick I have of Windows programs leaving files, changes to the registry, etc., all over the place.

Just wanted to ask; is there any obvious downside to using Sandboxie over using a dedicated Windows installation on a VM? I'm guessing something like missing DirectX dependencies and situations similar to that? I'm really liking Sandboxie right now but I haven't weighed the risks and downsides on using it when compared to using a VM. I imagine the differences are pretty slim but I just wanted to hear someone's opinion.

 

[hsehsing]

RPGM games are not opening
I have added the the folder with open access.

 

[onsen-chinatsu]

RPGM games are not opening
I have added the the folder with open access.

Does an error of some sort pop-up? Ever since installing Sandboxie, I've been playing all my RPGM in there (actually playing one right now) and I never came across any errors. I did reinstall the RPGM RTPs in Sandboxie just to make sure that I don't run across any errors.

 

[hsehsing]

Does an error of some sort pop-up? Ever since installing Sandboxie, I've been playing all my RPGM in there (actually playing one right now) and I never came across any errors. I did reinstall the RPGM RTPs in Sandboxie just to make sure that I don't run across any errors.

Nothing opens but i can see the process running in the sandboxie.
I will try installing them inside the sandboxie

 

[MelbourneRoad]

HOLY SHIT thanks for the link. I randomly stumbled upon your signature and found this. I've been looking for Sandboxie but back then it was paid and I recalled it was a huge pita to install the crack.

Thanks for reminding me of Sandboxie. I know I should have used this a long time ago, but my laziness got the better of me so I just nuke my entire Windows installation every three months or so. With Defender behaving rather too erratically as of late (flagged three .zip files as Trojans two Fridays ago, turned the blind eye to them on the following Saturday even after scanning them more than 10 times, then threw a fit at them being Trojans yet again on the Sunday that followed), I decided to just take an extra step to secure my installation. Easily solves the annoying nitpick I have of Windows programs leaving files, changes to the registry, etc., all over the place.

Windows Defender sometimes acts weird when you want to exclude some files from being flagged. You have to

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and then add the files to exclude list for the antivirus to not flag the files anymore.

Just wanted to ask; is there any obvious downside to using Sandboxie over using a dedicated Windows installation on a VM? I'm guessing something like missing DirectX dependencies and situations similar to that? I'm really liking Sandboxie right now but I haven't weighed the risks and downsides on using it when compared to using a VM. I imagine the differences are pretty slim but I just wanted to hear someone's opinion.

I'd say there are some limitations when you want some apps to work together while being sandboxed. VM is much better for that since it's a full-blown OS. You also can install a different OS, like Linux on a VM for increased security; viruses rarely can infect multiple OS, they're usually are only focused on a specific OS.

Though I can't be bothered to use VM as it's really slow to start and takes too much resources. Maybe I'd reconsider when I had a better PC specs.

 

[andy9987gg]

Hi, thanks for your tutorial on how to use Sandboxie. However, I still get some problems when trying to get Locale Emulator to work. I would like to share my steps to help all the others who are also facing the same problems.

1. Download Locale Emulator 2.4.1 or 2.5 above and extract it to a folder, such as "C:\LocaleEmulatorForSandboxie" (this Locale Emulator is for Sandboxie only)
2. Extract DLLs from "C:\LocaleEmulatorForSandboxie\Alternative Dlls.zip" and overwrites the existing ones in "C:\LocaleEmulatorForSandboxie"
3. (Optional) If you are already using Locale Emulator, uninstall it temporarily.
4. Install sandboxie plus. Add a sandbox. Assume the sandbox name is "box" (sandboxie will give you a default one, that would also be fine)
5. In sandboxie manager, double click "box" to open sandbox configuration for it.
6. Go to "Program Control" tab, then "Force Programs" sub tab.
7. Add Locale Emulator folder (C:\LocaleEmulatorForSandboxie) to the list using "Force Folder" button.
8. Execute "C:\LocaleEmulatorForSandboxie\LEInstaller.exe" to install Locale Emulator context menu for sandboxie.
9. (Optional) If you were using Locale Emulator and uninstalled it in step 3., now you can install it outside sandboxie to get it back to your host environment.

Now your computer are ready to execute programs using Locale Emulator inside a sandbox:
1. **Important** Use sandboxie to start a file explorer
2. Using sandboxed file explorer, navigate to your game/program folder, say "C:\SampleGame"
3. Right click on the desired executable (.exe), the Locale Emulator menu should show up.
4. Execute the game with the desired Locale Emulator option. Since Locale Emulator is installed for sandboxie, it launches the game using Locale Emulator inside the sandbox.
5. Enjoy!

 

[ForcedAccount]

Nothing opens but i can see the process running in the sandboxie.
I will try installing them inside the sandboxie

I don't know if you ever fixed the problem on your end, or if what OP advised fixed it for you, but it didn't for me. Namely because RPG Maker MV doesn't need any RTPs, so there were none I could point sandboxie to or install within. I fixed it in my case though, and in case anyone else in the future doing some research has a similar issue, I'll leave what I did here.

I initially set up my sandbox to block network activity via blocking the network devices (or something to that effect idk man this shit's new to me). When I instead switched it to block network activity using Windows Filtering Platform(?) both globally and on the specific sandbox settings, my MV games are able to launch properly. I don't know why, or how, but it worked.

Oh, and thanks for the guide OP.

 

[Kurokazewa]

Trying to get more used to using sandbox when playing games but I do tend to just double click the games to launch them out of habit more than anything else. So easier option is to just set program to launch off everything in the folder. Problem is that when you set it to launch off everything it also runs when you try to extract the game files... blocking them from successfully extracting. I've tried a few methods but can't seem to find any options to tell Sandboxie to just never run a certain program in the box. Any suggestions?

 

[hsehsing]

Trying to get more used to using sandbox when playing games but I do tend to just double click the games to launch them out of habit more than anything else. So easier option is to just set program to launch off everything in the folder. Problem is that when you set it to launch off everything it also runs when you try to extract the game files... blocking them from successfully extracting. I've tried a few methods but can't seem to find any options to tell Sandboxie to just never run a certain program in the box. Any suggestions?

You can maybe setup force breakup and add .rar extension and maybe winrar

 

[Kurokazewa]

You can maybe setup force breakup and add .rar extension and maybe winrar

So far I've tried:

Attempt 1
Global Settings > Program Control > Program Alerts
check Prevent the listed program and add 7zip to list.
Result is it blocks archive from opening at all. Inside or outside of the Box.

Attempt 2
DefaultBox options > Program Control > Breakout Programs
adding 7zip to list launches it in the box and prevents files from correctly extracting
(tested with an old file from before all the recent shit to be safe)

Attempt 3
Sandboxie.ini changed to breakout zip and rar files.
Same result as Attempt 2. It opens the program but doesn't actually extract anything to the folder.

 

[therealmrwolf]

even tho i have set folder with the games from here to be open sandboxie it stills open it normally

 

[Omnom88]

Few questions regarding sandboxie.

So far i did set up things like deny internet access or only allow/force the games inside a dedicated folder to be started with Sandboxie & followed the basics from the OG post.

I know Sandboxie made their own folder upon starting it for the first time.

Do i need to transfer anything else inside the sandboxie folder? Safes files etc? Or is it just a case of start every game with Sandboxie and Sandboxie will create folders for the games on their own?

Stupid question but do i extract zip files as usual or with sandboxie now do i extract them somewhere inside the created sandboxie-games folder? Or do i extract it inside the dedicated auto/force start folder with the rest of the other games?
So as i try to get familiar with sandboxie i was just wondering how that would or could work.

Besides that is there anything else i should keep in mind to "correctly" use sandboxie withouth shooting myself in the leg by doing something that negates the purpose of its safety net in the first plase?

 

[user115637]

All of that is too complicated for a typical user who doesn't have any technical knowledge of how operating systems work. I've tried to set addresses to my flash drive, following topic-starter's guide step-by-step. Guess what? Shit doesn't work, for multiple various games:

Spoiler

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And I don't have any clues whatsoever of what to do with this.

Plebs from this forum need a guide\roadmap of what knowledge they have to acquire in order to be self-reliant with using that tool and in order to be able to figure out why problems may occur and how to approach them. Because we ain't gonna get a technical support for this one.

The idea on containerization\isolation of processes on a virtual machine is cool though, large commercial companies do that for a decade already - it solves a lot of security\privacy -related issues at ease.

 

[hsehsing]

Anyone know how to use the new speed feature in v1.14?
I have set `UseChangeSpeed=y` in the ini file

 

[sabertooth39]

FYI Sandboxie-plus has now a built-in support custom local languages. There's no need for locale emulator anymore.

 

[hsehsing]

FYI Sandboxie-plus has now a built-in support custom local languages. There's no need for locale emulator anymore.

View attachment 4165223

Thanks
Didn't know about this

 

[lossius]

I tried to create a box without internet access to test the Lilith's Throne, but it seems that the game does not start or load and the reason is that "javaw.exe" (Probably the Java executable?) cannot be executed (it seems that Java needs the Internet to work). Can anyone confirm if this is true?