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Respondus Lockdown Browser

This US-based program is required to take certain exams, notably:

Semester 1:

  • Algorithms
  • Visual Language
  • Graphics Fundamentals

Semester 2:

  • Game Tech

Semester 3:

  • Programming 3
  • Graphics Programming (only the quiz)

Respondus has taken (some) measures to prevent Linux users from accessing it. The software attempts to detect when being run via WINE or a virtual machine.

Although its security is easily defeated, and Respondus itself encourages you to try it, please do not try to run it on Linux or a VM during an exam! The browser will falsely flag you as a cheater!

Yes, you have our blessing…go ahead and see if you can break it

-Respondus (source)

And it goes without saying, we do not support any kind of cheating exams. Remember, we are here to learn: you'd not only be cheating the exam, but yourself.

Solutions

You can request a paper copy of the exam ahead of time, but it is likely you will be asked to use a Windows laptop.

Further reading

A university in Italy lost a lawsuit from its students over it using Lockdown Browser. The case cites concerns over the large amount of unnecessary data collection done by Respondus, and the unlawful (under GDPR) transfer of personal student data to the US. Note however that DAE does not employ the camera feature of the browser, so not all the points apply.

See this page from the Linux and Unix Users Group at Virginia Tech Wiki for more details on the browser: Lockdown Browser.

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