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Safe Exam Browser (SEB) is a secure browser that locks down the testing environment, preventing access to other applications, websites, and system functions during an exam.

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What is Safe Exam Browser?

SEB is a free, open-source application that:
  • Runs exams in a locked kiosk mode
  • Prevents switching to other applications
  • Disables system keyboard shortcuts
  • Blocks screen capture and clipboard
  • Can detect virtual machines
  • Works on Windows, macOS, and iOS
SEB is developed by ETH Zurich. Learn more at safeexambrowser.org

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Enabling SEB Integration

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Configure in Proctor Settings

  1. Navigate to Proctor Settings
  2. Go to the Safe Exam Browser tab
  3. Enable Safe Exam Browser
  4. Choose the SEB mode
  5. Configure lockdown options
  6. Save

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SEB Modes

Start with Optional mode to let students familiarize themselves with SEB before requiring it.

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Configuration Options

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Basic Settings

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Security Lockdowns

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How It Works

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Student Experience

  1. Student navigates to the proctored quiz
  2. If SEB is enabled, they see a Open in Safe Exam Browser button
  3. Clicking downloads a .seb configuration file
  4. Opening the file launches SEB with the quiz
  5. Quiz runs in the locked SEB environment
  6. After submission, SEB exits (if Auto Quit enabled)

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Configuration File

LMS Proctor generates a .seb configuration file that includes:
  • Quiz URL and navigation settings
  • Security restrictions based on your configuration
  • Browser behavior settings
  • Password protection (if configured)
The file is generated dynamically for each quiz and session.

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Security Features

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Application Lockdown

When running in SEB:
  • Only the exam browser window is visible
  • Task switching (Alt+Tab, Cmd+Tab) is blocked
  • Start menu and dock are hidden
  • System notifications are suppressed

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Keyboard Restrictions

SEB blocks potentially problematic shortcuts:
  • Print screen / screenshots
  • Alt+F4 / Cmd+Q (without quit password)
  • Ctrl+Alt+Del / Force quit
  • Browser navigation shortcuts

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Virtual Machine Detection

SEB can detect if it’s running in:
  • VMware
  • VirtualBox
  • Parallels
  • Hyper-V
  • Other common VMs
When detected, the exam is blocked to prevent screen sharing through the VM host.

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Screen Capture Prevention

SEB attempts to prevent:
  • Built-in screenshot tools
  • Third-party capture software
  • Screen recording applications
No browser-based solution is 100% secure. Determined cheaters may find workarounds. SEB significantly raises the barrier but should be part of a comprehensive integrity strategy.

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Combining with LMS Proctor Features

SEB works alongside other LMS Proctor features: SEB adds an additional layer of security on top of the standard proctoring features.

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Student Requirements

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Installing SEB

Students need SEB installed before taking exams:
SEB for Linux has limited support. Consider making SEB optional if you have Linux users.

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First-Time Setup

Recommend students:
  1. Install SEB before exam day
  2. Test with a practice quiz
  3. Ensure their system meets requirements
  4. Know how to open .seb files

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Best Practices

Let students try SEB voluntarily before requiring it. This reduces support requests on exam day.
Create a short practice quiz with SEB enabled so students can verify their setup.
Tell students about SEB requirements well in advance, including installation instructions.
For Required mode, have a process for students who genuinely cannot run SEB.
Verify SEB works with your LMS setup on Windows, macOS, and iOS if applicable.

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Troubleshooting

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SEB won’t install

  • Verify system requirements are met
  • Check that antivirus isn’t blocking installation
  • Try running installer as administrator

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Configuration file won’t open

  • Ensure SEB is properly installed
  • Check file association for .seb files
  • Try opening SEB first, then loading the config

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Quiz doesn’t load in SEB

  • Verify the quiz URL is accessible
  • Check for browser compatibility issues
  • Ensure SSL certificate is valid

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Student stuck in SEB

  • If quit password is set, provide it to the student
  • Force quit (varies by platform) as last resort
  • Consider disabling quit password for lower-stakes exams

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VM detection false positive

  • Some corporate laptops run in virtual environments
  • Disable VM detection if this affects many students
  • Provide alternative proctoring for affected students

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Limitations

  • Requires students to install software
  • Not available on all platforms (Android, Linux limited)
  • Some accessibility tools may not work
  • Corporate/managed devices may block installation
  • Chromebooks not supported