In security terms, what does ‘sandboxing’ mean?

Sandboxing refers specifically to the practice of running untrusted applications in a controlled environment to prevent them from affecting other systems. The primary purpose of sandboxing is to create a virtualized environment where applications can execute without risking the integrity and security of the host system or network. When an application operates in a sandbox, it has limited access to the underlying system resources, which effectively isolates it from other applications and data.

This isolation helps contain any potential security threats or vulnerabilities within the sandbox, ensuring that if the application behaves maliciously or experiences a flaw, it cannot spread or cause damage to the broader system. This practice is particularly valuable in testing software, running web browsers, or executing code from untrusted sources, as it adds an additional layer of protection against malware or harmful actions that could compromise the security of the entire network or operating system. By limiting the impact of untrusted applications, sandboxing enhances the overall security posture of systems.