Windows Defender Sandbox


Why are so many posters not getting the difference between MS Defender Sandbox and Windows Sandbox? :think:

The former is a sandbox to protect MS Defender's processes. The latter is a simple sandboxing application to test applications and comparable to more feature-rich VMs. Windows Sandbox is enabled via GPO on Windows 10/11 Pro versions. A couple of members' posts reflect the correct understanding of the difference while the rest are sorely mistaken.

The reasons MS Defender Sandbox isn't enabled by default is a typical MS mystery, reflective of the many features it rolls out and then abandons. And MS's documentation is of course sketchy and often hard to find, leaving most users uncertain or completely in the dark. See my post #3 above.

Here is a 2018 post from MS. Good luck finding any more recent documentation.

Here's an August 2020 article questioning what happened to MS Defender's Sandbox by Joe Stocker is the CEO of Patriot Consulting, a Microsoft Partner specializing in Microsoft Cybersecurity:
 
Last edited:

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You answer your own question lol
Because ms abandons/ kills most items they create.
 

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Hi,
Well good why don't tell all how exactly you used it and what apps did you use it with.

Personally I've not and never will use it because it's unnecessary.
I turn off most of defender stuff and use just the firewalls.
Well, well. That don't help me
 

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Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta chann...i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)12GBGeneric PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD...
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Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta channels.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP ENVY Bought: March 2017
CPU
i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)
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HP 81AD (U3E1)
Memory
12GB
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Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD Graphics 620 (HP)
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Conexant ISST audio
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Generic PnP Monitor
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HP ENVY SILVER
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A fan.
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Logitec Anywhere 2
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No 'mo.
I am opening this thread back up due to the fact that I have been using this feature and have not found any impact on my system what so ever.
Would like to know anyway if someone from this forum has found or knows anything else on this topic.
I just enabled it again after a long time without it. I restarted my machine and see its process running, using ~100MB RAM. Otherwise no performance impact and certainly no news about this feature from MS or anyone else for that matter.
 

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Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.7840Intel Core i3-8145U16GB
OS
Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.7840
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo IdeaPad L340
CPU
Intel Core i3-8145U
Memory
16GB
Hard Drives
500 GB M2 1 TB HDD
Internet Speed
400 MB
Browser
Chrome | Edge
Antivirus
Microsoft Defender | Block unknown executables | Various ASR rules enabled | Smart App Control
Well, well. That don't help me
Hi,
Not sure there is any help for you
You haven't even explained how "when I asked" and which apps you used the feature with

All you said was you haven't had any issues with the feature
That's not very informative or compelling to sway anyone to use the feature to.
 

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Win-7-10-11Pro's10900k & 9940x & 5930kTrident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb & Trident-Z 36...Titan Xp & 1080ti FTW3 & evga 980ti gaming
OS
Win-7-10-11Pro's
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Acer 17" Nitro 7840sn/ 2x16gb 5600c40/ 4060/ stock 1tb-os/ 4tb sn850x
CPU
10900k & 9940x & 5930k
Motherboard
z490-Apex & x299-Apex & x99-Sabertooth
Memory
Trident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb & Trident-Z 3600c16 4x8gb & 3200c14 4x8gb
Graphics Card(s)
Titan Xp & 1080ti FTW3 & evga 980ti gaming
Sound Card
Onboard Realtek x3
Monitor(s) Displays
1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24"/ 3rd LG 43" series
Screen Resolution
1920-1080 not sure what the t.v is besides 43" class scales from 1920-1080 perfectly
Hard Drives
2-WD-sn850x 4tb/ 970evo+500gb/ 980 pro 2tb.
PSU
1000p2 & 1200p2 & 850p2
Case
D450 x2 & 1 Test bench in cherry Entertainment center
Cooling
Custom water loops x3 with 2x mora 360mm rads only 980ti gaming air cooled
Keyboard
G710+x3
Mouse
Redragon x3
Internet Speed
xfinity gigabyte
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
mbam pro
Hi,
Not sure there is any help for you
You haven't even explained how "when I asked" and which apps you used the feature with

All you said was you haven't had any issues with the feature
That's not very informative or compelling to sway anyone to use the feature to.
Probably because your question was not understood by me. And it still isn't.
What do you mean by what apps I use it with? Do you know what WD sandbox is?
This is a feature that MS started out turning on by default back in 2018 then some months later turned it off, I suppose due to it dragging some CPU'S to the ground and having performance issues.
So "when you asked" what apps I used it with is completely non-understandable. Windows Defender is not an app and the rest have nothing to do with it. It's a safety thing for this AV in case something attacks you and tries to get into your PC.
I am not asking for help, I'm asking for information about this feature.
 

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OS
Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta channels.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP ENVY Bought: March 2017
CPU
i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)
Motherboard
HP 81AD (U3E1)
Memory
12GB
Graphics Card(s)
Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD Graphics 620 (HP)
Sound Card
Conexant ISST audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Generic PnP Monitor
Screen Resolution
1536x864 pixels
Hard Drives
HGST HTS721010A9E630
PSU
Well...PSU you too!! What's this mean?
Case
HP ENVY SILVER
Cooling
A fan.
Keyboard
USA
Mouse
Logitec Anywhere 2
Internet Speed
Good enough for me! Fast!
Browser
Edge/Waterfox
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Other Info
No 'mo.
Well there's always the feedback hub for the lack of info on the web.
 

My Computer My Computer

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Win-7-10-11Pro's10900k & 9940x & 5930kTrident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb & Trident-Z 36...Titan Xp & 1080ti FTW3 & evga 980ti gaming
OS
Win-7-10-11Pro's
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Acer 17" Nitro 7840sn/ 2x16gb 5600c40/ 4060/ stock 1tb-os/ 4tb sn850x
CPU
10900k & 9940x & 5930k
Motherboard
z490-Apex & x299-Apex & x99-Sabertooth
Memory
Trident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb & Trident-Z 3600c16 4x8gb & 3200c14 4x8gb
Graphics Card(s)
Titan Xp & 1080ti FTW3 & evga 980ti gaming
Sound Card
Onboard Realtek x3
Monitor(s) Displays
1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24"/ 3rd LG 43" series
Screen Resolution
1920-1080 not sure what the t.v is besides 43" class scales from 1920-1080 perfectly
Hard Drives
2-WD-sn850x 4tb/ 970evo+500gb/ 980 pro 2tb.
PSU
1000p2 & 1200p2 & 850p2
Case
D450 x2 & 1 Test bench in cherry Entertainment center
Cooling
Custom water loops x3 with 2x mora 360mm rads only 980ti gaming air cooled
Keyboard
G710+x3
Mouse
Redragon x3
Internet Speed
xfinity gigabyte
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
mbam pro

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta chann...i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)12GBGeneric PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD...
OS
Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta channels.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP ENVY Bought: March 2017
CPU
i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)
Motherboard
HP 81AD (U3E1)
Memory
12GB
Graphics Card(s)
Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD Graphics 620 (HP)
Sound Card
Conexant ISST audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Generic PnP Monitor
Screen Resolution
1536x864 pixels
Hard Drives
HGST HTS721010A9E630
PSU
Well...PSU you too!! What's this mean?
Case
HP ENVY SILVER
Cooling
A fan.
Keyboard
USA
Mouse
Logitec Anywhere 2
Internet Speed
Good enough for me! Fast!
Browser
Edge/Waterfox
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Other Info
No 'mo.
Well there's always the feedback hub for the lack of info on the web.
Besides that, nobody ever answers the feedback hub. That's more for the MS techs for problems that they work on and your question never get answered. The best place is right here.
 

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Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta chann...i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)12GBGeneric PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD...
OS
Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta channels.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP ENVY Bought: March 2017
CPU
i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)
Motherboard
HP 81AD (U3E1)
Memory
12GB
Graphics Card(s)
Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD Graphics 620 (HP)
Sound Card
Conexant ISST audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Generic PnP Monitor
Screen Resolution
1536x864 pixels
Hard Drives
HGST HTS721010A9E630
PSU
Well...PSU you too!! What's this mean?
Case
HP ENVY SILVER
Cooling
A fan.
Keyboard
USA
Mouse
Logitec Anywhere 2
Internet Speed
Good enough for me! Fast!
Browser
Edge/Waterfox
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Other Info
No 'mo.

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta chann...i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)12GBGeneric PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD...
OS
Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta channels.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP ENVY Bought: March 2017
CPU
i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)
Motherboard
HP 81AD (U3E1)
Memory
12GB
Graphics Card(s)
Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD Graphics 620 (HP)
Sound Card
Conexant ISST audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Generic PnP Monitor
Screen Resolution
1536x864 pixels
Hard Drives
HGST HTS721010A9E630
PSU
Well...PSU you too!! What's this mean?
Case
HP ENVY SILVER
Cooling
A fan.
Keyboard
USA
Mouse
Logitec Anywhere 2
Internet Speed
Good enough for me! Fast!
Browser
Edge/Waterfox
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Other Info
No 'mo.
I have tried turning on Defender Sandbox on the new 24H2 Release Preview and it will not engage.

setx /M MP_FORCE_USE_SANDBOX 1 does nothing on this build. I checked the task manager and it doesn't show up. I will try Beta but I doubt it will work either.
 

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Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta chann...i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)12GBGeneric PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD...
OS
Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta channels.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP ENVY Bought: March 2017
CPU
i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)
Motherboard
HP 81AD (U3E1)
Memory
12GB
Graphics Card(s)
Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD Graphics 620 (HP)
Sound Card
Conexant ISST audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Generic PnP Monitor
Screen Resolution
1536x864 pixels
Hard Drives
HGST HTS721010A9E630
PSU
Well...PSU you too!! What's this mean?
Case
HP ENVY SILVER
Cooling
A fan.
Keyboard
USA
Mouse
Logitec Anywhere 2
Internet Speed
Good enough for me! Fast!
Browser
Edge/Waterfox
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Other Info
No 'mo.

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    Windows 11 Education For 25H2Intel® Core i7 5500u8 GBIntel HD Family Graphics 5500 AMD Firepro 4150M
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    Windows 11 Education For 25H2
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    HP ZBook G2
    CPU
    Intel® Core i7 5500u
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    HP
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    8 GB
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    Intel HD Family Graphics 5500 AMD Firepro 4150M
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    Realtek High Audio
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    1 TB SSD
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    Windows Defender
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    Windows 11 Pro For Workstations 25H2Xeon 1535m v632 GBAMD Quadro Pro 4100
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    HP Zbook G4
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    Xeon 1535m v6
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    HP
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    Windows Defender
Thanks! I'll give her a try and install it.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta chann...i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)12GBGeneric PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD...
OS
Win 11 Insider Release Preview and Beta channels.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP ENVY Bought: March 2017
CPU
i5 Core [email protected] (Unsupported for Win 11)
Motherboard
HP 81AD (U3E1)
Memory
12GB
Graphics Card(s)
Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) Intel HD Graphics 620 (HP)
Sound Card
Conexant ISST audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Generic PnP Monitor
Screen Resolution
1536x864 pixels
Hard Drives
HGST HTS721010A9E630
PSU
Well...PSU you too!! What's this mean?
Case
HP ENVY SILVER
Cooling
A fan.
Keyboard
USA
Mouse
Logitec Anywhere 2
Internet Speed
Good enough for me! Fast!
Browser
Edge/Waterfox
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Other Info
No 'mo.
If you really need to go to an untrusted site, install the SquareX extension/app.

Basically a sandbox in your Chrome-based browser.
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Education For 25H2Intel® Core i7 5500u8 GBIntel HD Family Graphics 5500 AMD Firepro 4150M
    OS
    Windows 11 Education For 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP ZBook G2
    CPU
    Intel® Core i7 5500u
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Family Graphics 5500 AMD Firepro 4150M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Audio
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Mouse
    HP USB Mouse
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro For Workstations 25H2Xeon 1535m v632 GBAMD Quadro Pro 4100
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro For Workstations 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Zbook G4
    CPU
    Xeon 1535m v6
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Quadro Pro 4100
    Sound Card
    Bang and Olufson Audio
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
    Mouse
    HP USB Mouse
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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