Sandboxie cannot open (a sandboxed) Firefox anymore

[bjm]

FWIW ~ Firefox 41.0.2 + Sandboxie 5.06 + NS 22.5.4.24 + IPSEng32.dll v15.0.2.19 + W8.1 okay.
Norton Toolbar disabled since before FF41 and Norton Exclude from Auto-Protect = C:\Program Files\Sandboxie since before FF41.
YMMV

[ukbobboy]

Dear Forum Members

I have a tale of woe and a warning to relate but first:-

First rule of trying to keep your PC safe :-

Do not allow anyone, no matter who they are or what organisation they represent, to remotely access your PC.

Second rule of trying to keep your PC safe :-

Do not allow anyone, no matter who they are or what organisation they represent, to remotely access your PC.

Thursday morning, I was so concerned about not being able to open a sandboxed Firefox any more I contacted Norton/Symantec help line in the vain hope that they could help solve this problem.

I was asked if I could allow the help desk person could access my PC remotely, usually I would have said "no" to this but I was so concerned about my lost "sandboxed Firefox" that against my own better judgement I said "yes".

To cut a long story short, the help desk person installed and ran "Norton Removal Tool" to uninstall my Norton Internet Security but NRT also went on to delete some Microsoft installations, which resulted in parts of Windows being damaged, my Network Settings were destroyed causing my PC to no longer communicate with my modem-router and so I no longer had an Internet connection.

On Monday I took my PC to a computer repair shop and relayed my tale of woe, they managed to fix my PC within two to three hours and I collected my machine this morning.

At this moment I can use Firefox while sandboxed but for this to happen, I believe, NIS has been disabled.

Anyway, the moral of this story is not let anyone remotely access your PC, no matter what.


UK Bob

PS. As anyone tried to initiate a previous restore point, i.e. before that destructive Norton update, to get back their lost "sandboxed Firefox" facility?

[MDrew]

Dear Forum Members


To cut a long story short, the help desk person installed and ran "Norton Removal Tool" to uninstall my Norton Internet Security

At this moment I can use Firefox while sandboxed but for this to happen, I believe, NIS has been disabled.

Anyway, the moral of this story is not let anyone remotely access your PC, no matter what.


UK Bob

Sorry about that!!! Glad you got your computer back & working again. I have the Norton Removal Tool on my computer and was going to run it but realized it isn't program specific and I could have removed Norton Ghost along with the AV - thankfully I didn't use the tool and deleted the AV using the standard "uninstall" procedure checking the option to save settings to later re-install.

FWIW, I think we can now say the FF, SBIE and Norton issue is confined to computers running Windows 7 and below - boxes running 8 and above do not seem to have been affected and the triggering problem is a Norton AV program "update" that occurred on Oct 20th (ipseng32.dl ?) - which leaves us where?

[sempusa]

... from what I can tell there still is no clear answer.

The answer is to disable Norton.

Really, what kind of answer is that, there is no way I'm running without virus protection. Sandboxie is a good added protection but not on it's own. sorry we have to get a better answer than that. Interesting I tried running with the Norton Intrusion protection disabled but no luck. Then I did a complete clean install of Sandboxie and a reboot - that worked last night with Norton, but this morning on bootup back to the same old problem. Makes me think it is Sandboxie that has the issue???

[Craig@Invincea]

@MDrew
Actually, you should run SBIE....as Primary, and the compliment that with any AV you choose.

When you're isolated, the only thing that will get a virus is your sandbox. You just then delete that sandbox. Then move on.

AV will tell you if it's (sandbox) is infected, but it's more reactive and not 100% Nope.

The question is for you..what's more important? Isolated and immune with proven SBIE? Or trusting an A/V vendor while not isolated and vulnerable to anything and everything??

As for A/V and sbie, we won't compromise how SBIE works with Windows. SBIE requires deep integration, and some A/V programs don't like that OR they try and replicate that. Thus, issues.

Windows Defender and Security Essentials have been used. Free. and they have identified everything we've thrown at it (stuff in a sandbox of course, we don't want crap on our actual machines knowing we're immune in a SB)

Conclusion: A safe/secure and proven way to surf? Do it in a sandbox. Do you want to "feel good" and know what may have infected your SB? add any A/V you like (if compatible).

NOTE: I use Norton 365 in Win 10 w/ SBIE @ home. Zero issues.

[bo.elam]

Makes me think it is Sandboxie that has the issue???

sempusa, even without Sandboxie, Firefox disables the Norton toolbar, that tells me that Norton has problems not only with SBIE but also with Firefox.

For a long time, bjm (who posted a few posts back) had lots of problems running Norton along SBIE but as of late, he has been able to workaround the issues, he posted his workaround. Check his post and see if doing what he is doing solve your problem. Or, try Norton 365, I don't know whats the difference between that Norton version and what you are using but Craig reports that works well for him along SBIE.

Really, what kind of answer is that, there is no way I'm running without virus protection. Sandboxie is a good added protection but not on it's own.

I don't think anyone here is suggesting not to run an antivirus. Even I who haven't used one for almost 5 years don't recommend doing that. I think what Craig is recommending is to find something that runs well with SBIE, I recommend MSE because it is one that has worked well with SBIE almost since its beginning and compatibility hasn't been broken for about 6 years. Those are good reasons to look at MSE or Windows defender. I also believe MSE is not as bad as we read that it is or that antiviruses like Norton are as good as they are supposed to.

Bo

[MDrew]

@MDrew
Actually, you should run SBIE....as Primary, and the compliment that with any AV you choose.

When you're isolated, the only thing that will get a virus is your sandbox. You just then delete that sandbox. Then move on.

NOTE: I use Norton 365 in Win 10 w/ SBIE @ home. Zero issues.

Craig. I feel naked not running SBIE (I understand the concept of the sandbox which is why I have used SBIE for years) - however, I also feel totally paranoid without Norton (a suite I have used since the dim pre-Windows days of DOS) - as for FF, SB & Norton playing nice on your machine (I note that FF is actually not listed in your post?), you are running Windows 10 and this issue seems to only affect 7 and below (I am XP) - definitely don't wanna buy a new computer and/or OS just to address a utility software conflict (believe it or not, I still run 16 bit programs era Windows32) - the answer in my case at this moment is to dump one program or the other and see if someday in the far distant furture the conflict is addressed and resolved. I am actually surprised that the recommended solution has been to dump Norton as opposed to telling everybody affected to dump FF and switch to Chrome - just as valid as telling people to uninstall their preferred AV program.

The user base that still runs old OSs may be dwindling, but I gotta think 7 is going to be around for quite awhile yet and someone should address this conflict, whether Norton (LOL) or Sandboxie I don't know, but IMO, SBIE is the nexus

[bjm]

For a long time, bjm (who posted a few posts back) had lots of problems running Norton along SBIE but as of late, he has been able to workaround the issues, he posted his workaround. Check his post and see if doing what he is doing solve your problem. Or, try Norton 365, I don't know whats the difference between that Norton version and what you are using but Craig reports that works well for him along SBIE.Bo

Um, respectfully. I have not had "lots of problems" as I recall running Norton + SBIE.
7+ years Norton and SBIE have cohabited with nary a memorable problem.
v3.x was compatible with Norton Toolbar. v4.x breaks Norton Toolbar. Not a problem (for me).
Other than Toolbar and M$ bumps. I've been ignorant of noteworthy problems re Norton and SBIE.
Granted, my SBIE config went thru some evolving re Firefox with Bo's help.
And there were one or two SBIE versions that had a glitch along the way.
SBIE (beta/version) glitch that were sorted by SBIE. Thank you.
So, with respect to Norton and Sandboxie. I would have dropped Norton had there been memorable, noteworthy "lots of problems".
Only recent...I've excluded Sandboxie folder from Norton. I get the occasional false start and wanted to see if SandboxieRpcSs.exe or SandboxieDcomLaunch were involved.
BTW, Norton 365 is Norton 360.
Hoping to all a quick solution.

[MDrew]

Seems the import of this thread has been lost the last several posts - the issue is NOT Norton versus SBIE per se, but not being able to run Firefox sandboxed after appoximately Oct 20th - the fact that the apparent base contaminate was caused by Norton in the first place was caused by experimentation done by forum members, as well as a suspected DLL!

I can run any of the other browsers I have on my computer just fine sandboxed - I just want Firefox to be my default (forced) browser - the topic is NOT if Norton eats Sandboxie or vice versa but why doesn't Firefox now run under Sandboxie, apparently on OSs below Windows 7 - in my world SBIE and Norton get along niffy and I can run any program I want sandboxed - except Firefox! - like I previously noted. the operational solution could just as well be addressed by running a different browser and than Norton would be a totally moot point!

[safemist]

I'm running a tablet with windows 8.1, with ffox 41.0.2, and Norton 360 22.5.4.24, and sboxie 5.05.2 and I can't open ffox in sboxie, so this isnt confined to 7 and below. I use the tablet for my high security stuff like banking, so I need ffox for NoScript. I currently face having to uninstall Norton.

My main pc has the earlier version of Norton 360 21.7.0.11 and Vista and firefox opens in sboxie just fine, so i regret updating the tablet.

[Craig@Invincea]

I'm running a tablet with windows 8.1, with ffox 41.0.2, and Norton 360 22.5.4.24, and sboxie 5.05.2 and I can't open ffox in sboxie, so this isnt confined to 7 and below. I use the tablet for my high security stuff like banking, so I need ffox for NoScript. I currently face having to uninstall Norton.

My main pc has the earlier version of Norton 360 21.7.0.11 and Vista and firefox opens in sboxie just fine, so i regret updating the tablet.

I've tested SBIE on a Dell Venue Pro Tablet running Win 10 and Norton 360* without issues (It ran 8.1 with same config before the update) I've also test Norton on Win 7/64 (desktop) before upgrading to Win10.

It could be the certain versions of Norton are causing issues? A specific update? Right now, it's hit or miss. The only true confirmation is that FF runs normally when Norton is uninstalled.

I do know that the FF Norton tool bar in not compatible with FF v 41 and above. So that rules out that possible addon/extension .

*This version of Norton is offered to Comcast / Xfinity customers. http://my.xfinity.com/learn/internet/security/ it is based on Norton360.

Some very good free A/V - Panda, Avast! and Windows Defender work well. As always, SBIE should be your primary security and isolation and A/V for the "feel good" nature.

[safemist]

Is WIndows firewall adequate?

[Peter 123]

And in addition to safemist's question about the firewall:

Norton also offers a browser protection (apart from the indeed never working toolbar).
Does (for example) Microsoft Security Essentials (respectively Windows Defender) have something similar? (I fear: no).

I am aware that this is primarily what I use SBIE for - but nevertheless an additional second security layer concerning browsing would be preferred by many users (including myself).

Moreover: There may always be a situation where I have to open my browser outside of the sandbox (e.g. for updating Firefox or some add-ons etc., for entering some websites where I have to log in regularly and where I want to keep being automatically logged in afterwards etc. etc.). Which will be my protection in these situations when I uninstall Norton??

Concerning MDrew's remark:

the operational solution could just as well be addressed by running a different browser and than Norton would be a totally moot point!

Of course. But SBIE and an AV software (respectively a security suite) usually after being installed and configured run all the time silently in the background whereas a browser is the software with which a user works all the day. So the change of the browser would have much bigger practical consequences than changing an AV program. From this point of view it seems to be logical for me that obviously for most of us the first choice would be an exchange of Norton with another security software in case that no other solution for the issue will be achieved.

[Craig@Invincea]

Seems the import of this thread has been lost the last several posts - the issue is NOT Norton versus SBIE per se, but not being able to run Firefox sandboxed after appoximately Oct 20th - the fact that the apparent base contaminate was caused by Norton in the first place was caused by experimentation done by forum members, as well as a suspected DLL!

I can run any of the other browsers I have on my computer just fine sandboxed - I just want Firefox to be my default (forced) browser - the topic is NOT if Norton eats Sandboxie or vice versa but why doesn't Firefox now run under Sandboxie, apparently on OSs below Windows 7 - in my world SBIE and Norton get along niffy and I can run any program I want sandboxed - except Firefox! - like I previously noted. the operational solution could just as well be addressed by running a different browser and than Norton would be a totally moot point!

@MDrew:

We know that FF (Cyberfox and other Mozilla based browsers) work just fine. The issue is with Norton somehow. We have a ton of customers on Symantec (Enterprise users) and have few if any problems.

The one thing we saw, it that FF took forever to load, What caused it? No idea. It's random and makes no sense. Both in limited and Admin accounts. But again, nothing led us anywhere.

[Craig@Invincea]

@MDrew

Can you tell us what version of Norton360 you are using? You can find this under Help>About see image..(This image is Norton360 Trial on 7/64)