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Major Sandboxie News: Sandboxie is now a free tool with plans to transition it to an open source tool

Seth Geftic

Sophos is excited to announce that we are making Sandboxie a free tool, with plans to transition it to an open source tool.

This new evolution of Sandboxie is one we are enthusiastic about, but that does not mean this was an easy decision to make.  Sandboxie has never been a significant component of Sophos’ business, and we have been exploring options for its future for a while. 

Frankly, the easiest and least costly decision for Sophos would have been to simply end of life Sandboxie. However, we love the technology too much to see it fade away.  More importantly, we love the Sandboxie community too much to do that. The Sandboxie user base represents some of the most passionate, forward thinking, and knowledgeable members of the security community and we didn’t want to let you down.

After thoughtful consideration we decided that the best way to keep Sandboxie going was to give it back to its users – transitioning it to an open source tool.  We will release more information about the open source project as we continue to work on the details.

Until the open source transition is completed we have decided to make Sandboxie completely free.  We have included a FAQ below with more information. We will continue to update this post as additional details become available. 

 

Sandboxie FAQ

 

How do I get a free license?  What features are included?

Sandboxie currently uses a license key to activate and grant access to premium features only available to paid customers (as opposed to those using a free version).  We have modified the code and have released an updated free version that does not restrict any features.  In other words, the new free license will have access to all the features previously only available to paid customers.

 

What if I have time left on my current Sandboxie license?

Regardless of how much time might be left on your existing Sandboxie license, in order to receive the latest updates customers with currently valid license keys will also need to install the latest unrestricted free version .  This will ensure you have access to all Sandboxie features and are using the most up-to-date version of the product.

 

What if I currently do not have a Sandboxie license?

Simply download the unrestricted, free version. No current or previous license is required.

 

When will Sandboxie be released as open source?

We are investigating making Sandboxie open source, however we are still working through the details and timeline. We will update this FAQ when we know more.

 

What license agreement will apply to my existing, paid licenses?  Will the same agreement apply to the unrestricted, free version that will be made available?

The license agreement under which you originally obtained the paid licenses to Sandboxie will continue to apply to those paid licenses until the expiration of the applicable license term.   A new license agreement will apply to licenses of the new unrestricted, free version of Sandboxie made available for download. 

An update EULA can be found here: https://www.sandboxie.com/EndUserLicenseAgreement

 

Will customer support still be available?

As part of our transition to a free and potentially open source product, Sandboxie support will become community based.  The community will include developers directly involved with Sandboxie.




[locked by: Akhilesh@Sophos at 9:23 PM (GMT -7) on 24 Mar 2020]

  • Thanks for releasing Sandboxie as freeware instead of just scrapping the product!

    Thanks! /Sam

  • So that's how Sandboxie dies.

    I saw this dozens of times, a passionate developer creates a great tool, it becomes superpopular, and eventually some corpernicious entity takes interest in it, takes it over and destroys it. Although it's usually Adobe.

    Anyway, I saw that now this shows up when you try to download the "new" Sandboxie:

    Due to requirements of the U.S. government, export compliance is now mandatory when downloading our software. Complete the form to proceed with your download.

    At first I thought, "what the hell is that garbage", and then I read a few headlines about it: "Sophos creates racist filters", " Sophos: If You'd Like A Copy Of Our Free AV Software, You'll Need To Prove You're Not A Terrorist", "Want to download free AV software? Don't have a Muslim name"...

     

    https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/07/sophos_anti_muslim_name_filter/

    https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150807/06265231879/sophos-if-youd-like-copy-our-free-av-software-youll-need-to-prove-youre-not-terrorist.shtml?threaded=false&sp=1

     

    Well, great start!

  • So Sophos, you bought sandboxie to TERMINATE IT?

    What about the fortune i paid for a lifetime license?

    That was not cheap.

    Who cares if you will make open source after you assassinate this crap that doesnt even work correctly with latest windows updates?

    You bought sandboxie! Then you got hacked, removed the forums and further developement for more than half a year!

    You should not buy a decent working project to terminate it.

    So Sandboxie is not a significant part of your income? THATS BECAUSE YOU DID NOT UPGRADE THE INTERFACE THAT IS STILL ARCAIC.

    Sandboxie is a must have software that beats other similar products.

    WHY THE HELL YOU BUY TO RUIN IT WITH YOUR BAD MANAGEMENT?

  • in reply to carl COBAIN

    Seriously?? I never cease to be impressed with the type of people exist out there.... I mean seriously you give a new vision on the term of trolling. You remind me of that other guy (or maybe you with a different username?) who was so angry with the problem a few months back and who from his writings was so obvious that was getting profit by exploiting lifetime license. I won't get into your game and try a reasoning respond to your trolling (and if it's not a trolling you have much more serious issues)

    If all who were getting the hacked version (but as well complain on this forum...) paid for it I guess it would have been profitable/provide the money so Sophos would hire specialized staff for it if that's the problem. If they proceed with open source decision which I don't see why they won't (well maybe posts like the above can motivate them to change their mind....) that's the best outcome if they are not able/not profitable to keep the product stable. Hopefully it will have a future in the open source community

    Long live the trolls! (or maybe not)

  • in reply to carl COBAIN

    Be glad that sophos does what they do, otherwise you would be stuck for all eternity with that "archaic interface".

    While this sort of tool is a must have for advanced users, advanced users are apparently to few to justify founding further development.

    With sandboxie becoming open source people like me will be able to make changes to it and to maintain the development, including possibly a new interface.

     

    Cheers

    David X.

  • in reply to carl COBAIN

    First off all, your tone is completley unnaceeptable.

     

    Secondly, Sophos bought Invinvicia (who bought it off the original author TZUK)

     

    Invincia had MANY products, some may have been merged into Sophos products or rebranded. Not all companies IP's that have been bought or merged necesarrily make it to the new company.

     

    Products get retired all the time and lifetime license does not mean they have to support the product for YOUR lifetime but the lifetime of the PRODUCT. Sophos made a business decision that when they bought Invincia they decided they did not want to the sandboxie product.


    They could have at that second removed the program and closed the website and there was nothing you could have done.

    It's like if you buy a product and it's got a 10 year warranty on it and the manufactuer goes bust then that 10 year warranty is not worth the paper it's written on.

     

     

     

     

  • I use sandboxie on and off since 2006 due to some design decisions rather off than on,

    so sandboxie now going open source and giving me the opportunity to change it to work the way I want it to is like a Dream come true.

    Lets all hope they will soon release the source codes to the public.

  • @Argos A

    @carl COBAIN:

    Regarding trolling... I agree with Argos A. I, too, paid for a lifetime license. Worthless now.

    I have to wonder if Sophos's plan is to discontinue the ability to use sandboxie's licensed product in favor of their own "new and improved" version.

    I came to sandboxie today because someone asked if sandboxie was available for android, and I only just now learned of this turn of events.

     

    Today is a sad day for me.

  • in reply to Teresa Anderson

    Teresa Anderson said:

    @Argos A

    @carl COBAIN:

    Regarding trolling... I agree with Argos A. I, too, paid for a lifetime license. Worthless now.

    I have to wonder if Sophos's plan is to discontinue the ability to use sandboxie's licensed product in favor of their own "new and improved" version.

    I came to sandboxie today because someone asked if sandboxie was available for android, and I only just now learned of this turn of events.

     

    Today is a sad day for me.

     

     

    If you have to wonder, is because you did not even read what they said.

    You dont need key anymore, they will discontinued and will release the code, anyone can use the last version without license.

    If you did not even understand this, no point hoping you to understand legal contract principles.

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