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Home>Windows Secrets>Improve security by running apps in isolation

Improve security by running apps in isolation

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Mark edwards By Mark Joseph Edwards

Your most important programs run in the same environment as your operating system — which means if they pick up malware, Windows does, too.

A free utility lets you run each app in its own virtual environment to prevent any interaction with your vital system files.


Stay safe by siloing your running applications

Maintaining your PC’s security requires a multilayered approach. You probably use a firewall, antivirus software, spyware catchers, and spam filters. But there’s one security layer that’s probably missing from your system: virtualization.

The technology works by running one or more of your programs in a virtual PC environment, or virtual machine, that’s isolated from the rest of your system. That way, a malware infection can get no further than that virtual environment.

The Software Virtualization Solution (SVS) from Altris works a lot like a virtual machine at the application level. (Note that Altris was acquired by Symantec in January 2007.)

For example, if something goes wrong with a browser that’s running inside an SVS wrapper, you can simply reset the program back to its defaults and be rid of the problem.

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Related posts:

  1. Free security scan of your running processes
  2. Running some apps as a limited user from an admin account
  3. More Re: Virtually Running Vista
  4. New virtualization software provides excellent protection
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= Paid content

All Windows Secrets articles posted on 2008-10-02:

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E-books

We’ve pored through years of back issues, picking the best tips, to create these ebooks:

E-book series
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