How to Safely Run Viruses on Windows

If you want to check out a virus's destructive nature, you can use a feature of Windows called Windows Sandbox. It requires the Windows 10 May 2019 Update and Windows 10 Pro. This wikiHow will show you how to use this feature.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Setting Up

  1. Image titled Safely Run Viruses on Windows Step 1
    1
    Open the Windows Features dialog box. To do so, type in Turn Windows Features on or off in the search box. Choose the top result.
  2. Image titled Safely Run Viruses on Windows Step 2
    2
    Check the box next to Windows Sandbox. This will be listed near the bottom of the page.
    • This app is only available on Windows 10 Pro on the May 2019 Update.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Safely Run Viruses on Windows Step 3
    3
    Choose OK. This will begin the installation of the Windows Sandbox feature.
  4. Image titled Safely Run Viruses on Windows Step 4
    4
    Restart your computer. After restart, there should be a new app named "Windows Sandbox".
    Advertisement

Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Using Windows Sandbox

  1. Image titled Safely Run Viruses on Windows Step 5
    1
    Open the Windows Sandbox app. This app has an icon of the shape of a sandbox. This can be found in the App list on Start or in Cortana search.
  2. Image titled Safely Run Viruses on Windows Step 6
    2
    Locate the malicious webpage/virus. You will have to find it on the internet. You can use Microsoft Edge to locate the virus. You may have to click on fake popups as well as fake warnings to get these viruses. For more information, see Get a Computer Virus.
  3. Image titled Safely Run Viruses on Windows Step 7
    3
    Download the virus. The virus will only infect the Windows Sandbox and should not cause harm to your PC.
    • You can also cut and paste the files in question onto the Sandbox's desktop.
  4. Image titled Safely Run Viruses on Windows Step 8
    4
    Run the virus. You may want to record the Windows Sandbox window using Game Bar. Your files will be safe, and you can close out the sandbox window to stop the virus code from running.
    Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Create a Virus
How to
Create a Virus
Detect and Remove Keyloggers
How to
Detect and Remove Keyloggers
Get a Computer Virus
How to
Get a Computer Virus
Tell if Your Computer Is Infected by a Trojan Horse
How to
Tell if Your Computer Is Infected by a Trojan Horse
Know if You Have Spyware on Your Computer
How to
Know if You Have Spyware on Your Computer
Locate Viruses Using the Attrib Command
How to
Locate Viruses Using the Attrib Command
Remove a Worm Virus
How to
Remove a Worm Virus
Get Rid of Trojan Horses
How to
Get Rid of Trojan Horses
Remove Malware
How to
Remove Malware
Detect Malware
How to
Detect Malware
Scan Your Computer for Viruses
How to
Scan Your Computer for Viruses
Avoid Getting a Computer Virus or Worm
How to
Avoid Getting a Computer Virus or Worm
Advertisement

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 6
Updated: March 7, 2021
Views: 788
Categories: Windows | Computer Viruses
Advertisement