What Is LockDown Browser and How Does It Work?..how does a lockdown browser work.what is a lockdown browser.
LockDown Browser is a proprietary web browser and software package designed to protect against cheating on online or remote exams. If you are a student writing online exams, chances are good that you will be using the LockDown browser as part of your assessment.
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What Is LockDown Browser?
LockDown Browser is a software application developed by Respondus Inc. The company does not sell it to individual users, but licenses it to institutions that conduct remote examinations.
LockDown Browser is clearly aimed at preventing digital fraud. In other words, it locks out the entire computer so that students cannot view notes or use Google to search for answers.
The browser can’t do anything with another person in the room, with another device, or just plain paper cheat sheets. It can only protect the computer it is running on. This is why you are more likely to come across LockDown Browser at a formal exam center. In face-to-face exams, a human supervisor ensures that students do not cheat in a way that cannot stop LockDown Browser.
Screenshot of LockDown Browser Demo for Moodle
This does not mean that LockDown Browser won’t work for students taking exams at home, it just isn’t enough for remote exams. Remote control is also needed to cover up other forms of deception. It is not an integral part of the LockDown browser, but we will talk about controls briefly later in this article.
Introducing the Respondus LockDown Browser for Students
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Generic Use of “Lockdown Browser”
Just as people call all vacuum cleaners “Hoovers”, it has become common to refer to all exam security browsers as “Browser Blocked”. However, LockDown Browser is a trademark of Respondus Inc. This article is specifically about the Respondus product, but you can work with a different brand of browser that does something similar.
The explanation in this article applies to all browsers and blocked type solutions in general; it is just important to know that you should search for information using the specific name of the software you will be using in order to get the most accurate answers.
Why Do We Need LockDown Browser?
Computer testing is becoming more popular every year, and universities and other educational institutions cannot ignore the many benefits. If an exam or test is conducted on a computer, it means that results can be obtained quickly. It requires much less administration and offers many financial benefits to all participants, both students and educational institutions.
There is no reason to expect online computer testing to become the norm over time. Thus, there is a clear need to combat exam fraud. After all, an institution’s qualifications mean nothing if you can’t trust the exam results.
How Does LockDown Browser Work?
Since this software is closed source, we do not know exactly how the LockDown browser works internally. Such security software is better off not understanding how it works. After all, the less someone knows about the inner workings of a browser, the less likely it is that someone will be able to bypass it.
What we can do is describe what LockDown Browser looks like from a student’s perspective. When using the LockDown Browser, the test runs in full screen mode and cannot be minimized. Students cannot switch to other applications or do anything on the computer other than taking an exam.
Many standard browser features are also disabled. For example, you cannot right-click anything. All browser controls except Back, Forward, Refresh, and Stop are disabled. Copying or pasting is not allowed and buttons such as Print Screen will also not work. In addition, all printing is disabled.
It is also not possible to open an exam designed for use with the LockDown browser in any other browser. The rating website will detect that you are using the wrong browser and refuse to load.
Of course, anything you do or try to do during the assessment will be noted. Thus, any attempts to cheat or exploit blocked functions may flag your test for closer examination.
Can LockDown Browser Be Circumvented?
First, it’s important to say that there is no such thing as an unbreakable and unbreakable security system. So the question is not whether LockDown can be bypassed, but whether the effort required to do so is worth it. It may be easier to study and take the test than to try a supposed workaround that you find somewhere and don’t have a chance to test until exam day.
Aside from questionable third-party exploits, if you’re smart enough to come up with a way to hack the LockDown browser yourself, you’re probably also smart enough to legally pass the test.
Obviously, we do not support cheating in any form, but even if you have no moral problems with it, trying to bypass the LockDown browser carries serious risks and low chances of success. Just don’t do it.
LockDown Browser Privacy Concerns
Typically, the LockDown browser runs on a school or test center computer. However, in the era of remote work and study caused by the pandemic, you may be asked to install software on your personal computer.
To work, the LockDown browser must have administrator rights and access to the highest level of security on your computer. Therefore, we recommend that you read Respondus’ Privacy Policy carefully. Even so, you can only use it on a computer that has no confidential or private information.
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LockDown Browser With Online Proctoring
As previously mentioned, a product like LockDown Browser is just one part of an exam fraud prevention solution. You will also need a supervisor to observe the exam to make sure everyone is following the rules. In a computer lab, you can just ask people to go and literally watch what is happening. However, if you are conducting an assessment remotely, online monitoring becomes necessary.
There are two approaches to this. First, a person can remotely monitor the exam using a webcam and microphone connected to the student’s computer. Alternatively, you can use software to automatically detect suspected fraud. The video and audio are then sent to people for review for confirmation.
In the specific case of Respondus, they sell a service known as Respondus Monitor. They claim that this is fully automated and the instructor can view the marked videos and audios after completing the test. This aspect of remote exams makes cheating very difficult and should discourage any potential cheaters.
What Is LockDown Browser and How Does It Work?
What Is LockDown Browser and How Does It Work?
how does a lockdown browser work
how does a lockdown browser work
what is a lockdown browser