LockDown Browser at WWU

• Assessment Integrity: Adds a deterrent to unauthorized use of AI tools and external resources during online quizzes and exams.
• Faculty Control: You decide when and if to use LockDown Browser—assessment by assessment.
• Canvas Integration: Enabled directly within Canvas quiz settings; no separate assessment platform is required.
• Reduced Post-Quiz Review Burden: Clear restrictions can minimize disputes related to unauthorized digital access.
• Flexible Use: Suitable for low-stakes quizzes, practice assessments, or high-stakes exams, depending on instructional goals.

• Fairness: Helps ensure a more level playing field by reducing opportunities for unauthorized assistance.
• Transparency: Students know in advance when LockDown Browser is required.
• Consistency: Clear expectations across courses that choose to use the tool.
• Practice Opportunities: Faculty are encouraged to offer practice quizzes so students can test the browser in advance. 

NOTE: WWU is not enabling in Canvas the Respondus Monitor product for video or audio technology monitoring used for remote proctoring. 

WWU followed a strict process during procurement ensuring student privacy and security of the Respondus application. Further, as Respondus is licensed by over 1,100 educational institutions, the technology, security, and privacy stance has been vetted by some of the largest online learning programs in the world. 

Respondus complies with a variety of privacy and security standards, including FERPA, GDPR, U.S. Privacy Shield, CCPA, EDUCAUSE HECVAT Participation, PCI-Compliance Scanning, SOC 2 Type 1 Certification, and LTI.  Respondus facilitates third-party penetration testing and monthly vulnerability scanning. Respondus engineers have achieved AWS Solutions Architect Certification or higher.

• LockDown Browser only restricts the testing environment for students. It does not record video or audio unless paired with a separate proctoring solution (not part of the WWU pilot), and it does not access or transmit personal content.
• LockDown Browser has been vetted by security/privacy advocates and third-party security companies.
• The LockDown Browser installer and the installed program are digitally signed using a code signing certificate issued by Thawte.
• Both Microsoft and Apple recognize and include LockDown Browser in their testing.

For more details, see: LockDown Browser Privacy Policy Supplement

While LockDown Browser has been carefully designed for accessibility, some students may require accommodation or alternative testing arrangements. Faculty must continue to work with the Disability Access Center to ensure equal access and coordinate with Canvas Help for implementation strategies.

LockDown Browser only restricts activity on the device being used to take the quiz. It does not prevent students from accessing unauthorized materials on a secondary device, such as a phone, or from using other notes or textbooks. 

Restricting low-effort opportunities for academic policy violations may reduce the inclination for students to use these tools and may help refocus student effort on learning. 
During Canvas quizzes LockDown Browser limits many options including:

• Restricting actions such as opening additional browser tabs;
• Copying and pasting content; and
• Accessing web-based AI tools or fully agentic browsers on the same device.

LockDown Browser avoids some of the equity and privacy concerns associated with more invasive online proctoring tools, which have been shown to falsely flag students with disabilities or those using approved accommodations. Through this pilot, WWU is exploring whether LockDown Browser can serve as a less intrusive option that supports academic integrity while remaining mindful of student access and equity.

LockDown Browser may also help during in-person testing while using personal devices or checked-out laptops in class or computers in General University computer labs. LockDown Browser may help balance having a more equitable in-person testing environment while preserving the instructional and grading ease that Canvas quizzes and SpeedGrader can provide. NOTE: LockDown Browser is currently being installed in WWU check-out laptops, a process that should be complete by 4/13/26 for the Student Tech Center; Classroom Services is in progress.

• Departmentally-controlled labs may not have LockDown Browser available.
• Remote access to labs to use LockDown Browser will not work.

Students will only be prompted to use LockDown Browser for assessments where faculty have set it to be required. It is not enabled by default or automatically.    

Note that LockDown Browser is most effective when paired with thoughtful assessment design and clear academic integrity expectations. 

Computer Restrictions

• Copy or paste content
• Print or save the assessment
• View or switch to other applications or browser tabs
• Use screen-sharing software
• Run virtual machines or remote desktop tools
• Access AI tools, browser extensions, or external websites

The LockDown Browser is not a proctoring tool and will not monitor the student's physical environment. 

Quiz Limitations

• Test Student/Student View: As with other advanced use cases, using this option to see what a student can see may not provide an accurate account of the student experience.
• Allowing Students to View Results: Students cannot view their quiz results if the quiz has the "Only Once After Each Attempt" option enabled. You can use the Moderate Quiz feature to give students additional views to their quiz results.
• File Upload Question Type: LockDown prevents students from browsing their computer during a quiz so the File Upload question type is also disabled. As a workaround, ask students to submit files via an assignment or another quiz without LockDown enabled.

LockDown Browser only shows in the course navigation when teachers enable it in Settings. It is not visible to students. This item provides teachers with access to the tool, the ability to require the use of LockDown Browser for each existing quiz/exam, and access to help resources. 

• It can be installed on any Mac or PC. See computer requirements.
• See help page and video: How do I install LockDown Browser?
• If preferred/required, students can take the quiz in a General University computer lab where LockDown Browser is installed.
• To uninstall, see How do I uninstall or remove LockDown Browser? 

When there is a link as part of a quiz question, the LockDown Browser will open the web page in a new secure tab in LockDown Browser but it will not allow the student to navigate beyond that page. If there is a need for students to see content beyond the single webpage, these can be specified in the quiz settings by faculty when they select to use LockDown Browser. 

See also:

• Accessing external web domains in LockDown Browser
• Allowing External URLs and Secondary URLs in a LockDown Browser exam

Any external sites or materials will have to be added to the allow list for that quiz for students to be able to access them during the quiz, as there is no other way for any other apps or browsers to be open at the same time. Links to those specific materials must also be in the quiz for students to be able to access them during the quiz. 

See also:

• Accessing external web domains in LockDown Browser
• Allowing External URLs and Secondary URLs in a LockDown Browser exam