Safe Exam Browser

Safe Exam Browser is a comprehensive utility to manage e-assessment, offering a secure web browsing environment. It reliably limits other system functions and turns your computer into an exam workstation, proving the best solution, specifically for professionals to offer reliable, uninterrupted, and smooth exam conditions.

The app works like an institution within consistent exam integrity, focusing on ensured fairness and limited interference. The support for isolated-clipboard and extended configuration helps to improve usability and control. 

What is a Safe Exam Browser?

Safe Exam Browser developed by ETH Zurich, falls under the Education category, is an open-source software. It offers a secure e-assessment system, turning your computer into a secure workstation temporarily while avoiding unauthorized access threats. It offers a lockdown environment within controlled access to Windows features and external websites.

The app is specifically designed for schools, universities, certification providers, and so on to offer a more predictable environment for delivering online exams. It offers cross-platform compatibility, and unlike other lockdown tools, it requires a learning curve to configure the complex setup. 

Safe Exam Browser Features

Restrict External Access

It is one of core features, enabling your system to avoid access to external resources, conducting an e-assessment environment. On starting the exam, the app blocks everything, even system functions such as keyboard shortcuts, right-click context menus, access to unauthorized websites or applications. In this way, the app ensures to stop all types of wrong navigation from the exam page. 

Important Accessibility

Beyond blocking external resources access, the app helps to manage important settings, permitting specific URLs, applications, and system settings for the ease of exam creators precisely control the entire process. It offers the accessibility of important elements during the test, however, it is up to administrators to ensure the exam environment and the browser version remain unchanged. 

Fool-proof Security

The use of encrypted configuration files enables users to manage exam-specific settings, including permission of resources and browser behavior. It is also possible to use special hyperlinks for launching the app on another browser, and configure it for individual exams. It also offers a VM detector, allowing it to detect and refuse illegal situations such as running the app on a virtual machine or a jailbroken device. In addition, the support for certificate pinning helps protect the connection to exam servers from unauthorized access.

LMS Integration

The strong integration to Learning Management System (LMS) platforms such as Moodle, ILIAS, OPenOlat, Inspera Assessment offering pre-configured quiz environments, bypassing search bars, address bars, or navigation controls to prevent access to external material. The minimal interface is distraction-free while avoiding the risk of cheating. Moreover, to enhance exam integrity, it also offers some special LMS quiz settings or extensions for blocking messages, notifications, and other potential distractions. It helps to streamline a test-taking process while focusing solely on assessment. 

Strong Customization

The availability of strong customization options enables administrators to manage the entire exam environment more reliably such as permitting/excluding applications, full-screen/kiosk mode, and disable multiple operating system features, and so on. This flexibility suits different exam scenarios, as the configuration’s encryption claims no one can bypass settings. In addition, it offers straightforward deployment for both managed computer labs and distributed, student-owned devices. The configuration files are loaded by exam administrators at startup or even set via command-line parameters. 

Robust Performance

The app based on Mozilla Gecko engine offers stunning compatibility and renders distraction-free LMS interfaces. It offers optimized performance, even on older hardware to offer high-stakes assessments. It is frequently updated to offer new LMS changes, or fixing the new security threats, and enhanced compatibility and usability makes the platform most suitable for all types of institutions. 

Recent Enhancements

The app is regularly updated, so you will find multiple innovative enhancements such as screen proctoring metadata collection, updated configuration value controls, including upload/download separation and cursor verification to improve exam security. Unlike other lockdown apps, it doesn’t depend much on visuals, offering intentionally minimal interface while focusing on a distraction-free environment.

Web-based Assessments

The app offers web-based assessments, enabling institutions to keep online exams focused and controlled, as it offers secure browser settings, encrypted exam configurations, platform integrations, and exam-specific launch options. In addition, the app with well-documented capability offers user guides and online community forums. So, administrators are capable of getting step-to-step instructions for setup, deployment, and troubleshooting as well. 

Pros

• Strong lockdown app with screen protecting and exam protection
• Offers encrypted exam configurations
• Supports signature verification and metadata to enhance exam integrity
• Seamless integration to LMS platforms
• Free and open-source utility
• Secure isolated-clipboard and wide configuration control
• Simple and distraction-free interface

Cons

• Complex setup and configuration for casual use
• Supports only exam environment