Returnil Virtual System

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Returnil Virtual System

Returnil Virtual System Version 2.0.1 Beta
Developer(s)	Returnil
Stable release	2.0 / 2008-09-02; 14 months ago
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
License	Shareware
Website	www.ReturnilVirtualSystem.com

Returnil Virtual System (RVS) is a sandbox application for Microsoft Windows. Its goal is to prevent malware and potentially unwanted programs from permanently infecting or modifying a system.

How it works

A "session" spans from when the user activates either "System Protection" or "Session Lock" to when the user deactivates those features.

During a session, RVS virtualizes the system partition and all files, folders, partitions, and partitions/disks specified under "File Protection" by storing all writes in a cache. The cache itself can be stored on the hard drive or partially in RAM. Windows and all other programs function normally.

The user has the option of committing the changes stored in the cache to the system partition. A user can selectively commit changes in the paid-for "Premium" version.^[1]

RVS offers to create a virtual partition during installation, it serving as a place to store data when under Returnil protection.

Drawbacks

The listed limitations apply only to the current stable release, version 2.0:

• Malware can still cause stability issues, until the system is restored to its original state. Malware, specifically data miners, can also steal confidential information under RVS protection.

• RVS only protects the system partition, making infection of other partitions, such as the one created by RVS, possible.^{[2][unreliable source?]}

• The master boot record is locked from changes. This can conflict with certain programs.^{[3][unreliable source?]}

• RVS's cache can run out of space. The user has the option of expanding the cache; however the cache cannot be as big as the system partition itself.^{[4][unreliable source?]}

• RVS is not yet compatible with dynamic partitioning.^[5]

Editions

The paid-for "RVS 2008 Premium" includes the basic sandboxing ability of the free "RVS 2008 Personal", along with the ability to commit certain file or folder changes, or even an entire virtual session to the real system partition rather than discarding changes.^[6]

RVS 2008 is available in English, French, Simplified Chinese, Japanese.

System requirements

The current stable release of RVS is currently available for 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows.

Beta versions

Version 3.0

The new beta version introduces a combination of antivirus and virtualization technology. The antivirus engine is powered by F-prot^[7]

Currently, RVS does not have the ability to drop changes accumulated from several sessions, limiting its ability as a sandbox to test programs that require a reboot to complete installation. Returnil "will be exploring" such functionalities in the 3x series. ^{[8][unreliable source?]}

See also

• Sandbox (computer security)
• Disk Write Copy (computer security)

References

External links

• Returnil Site