A lockdown browser restricts selected actions in the exam environment. Online proctoring is a supervision process that can include identity checks, monitoring and review. They address related problems and can be used together. A restriction on the exam computer does not, by itself, establish who is taking the exam or what happens outside that computer.
A product name and a broader category
LockDown Browser is also the name of a Respondus product. Respondus describes it as a browser that restricts the testing environment within an LMS, including access to other applications and copying or printing. Its separate Respondus Monitor solution adds webcam-based monitoring. These descriptions come from the official Respondus product page.
This article compares the purposes of exam-environment restrictions and proctoring. It is not a claim that every product implements the same controls, nor a substitute for the documentation of the version your institution uses.
What a restricted exam environment can do
Depending on the product and delivery mode, controls may limit navigation, switching applications, copying, printing or access to selected resources. These controls are intended to reduce unauthorised actions on the exam device. An organiser should test each required restriction on supported operating systems and on company- or institution-managed computers.
Restrictions also need to accommodate legitimate work. An open-book assessment, programming task or accessibility tool may require an approved application or resource. Define those needs before choosing the strictest possible settings.
What proctoring adds
Proctoring connects rules, participant identity, observations and a review process. Camera or screen information can help reviewers understand a session, but the recorded scope depends on configuration. Live and recorded review describe when people examine the evidence; automated analysis describes how software helps identify relevant moments.
A useful review record lets an authorised person trace a signal back to its context. It should support both the investigation of a possible breach and an explanation of a technical or permitted event.
What neither approach can promise
No single browser restriction or camera view can guarantee that all cheating is prevented. External devices and activity outside the observed area may be beyond a selected control’s scope. A wireless signal can indicate a nearby device without proving that it is a hidden camera. Controls must be described by what they actually observe and restrict.
In TrustExam, browser, tray-assisted and desktop modes differ. The supported camera, screen, focus, display and environment checks should be agreed for the chosen mode. Treat the product configuration, participant instructions and human review procedure as one exam workflow.
A practical evaluation checklist
Identify the actions you need to restrict and the resources participants are allowed to use.
Ask which controls work in each delivery mode and supported operating system.
Test installation, managed-device policies, permitted applications and individual adjustments.
Verify what the reviewer sees after an interruption or flagged event.
Define recording access, retention, deletion and the route for appeals.
Run a practice attempt before the consequential exam.
Frequently asked questions
Does “lockdown browser” always mean webcam recording?
No. Browser restrictions and webcam monitoring are separate capabilities. Check the specific product and exam settings; for Respondus, the vendor distinguishes LockDown Browser from Respondus Monitor.
Can a locked browser detect everything in the room?
No universal room visibility follows from locking the exam computer. Ask what additional observations are configured and what remains outside their scope.
Which is better for our organisation?
Start with your assessment risks and permitted workflow. You may need device restrictions, identity checks, human supervision and recorded review in a combination that your pilot can validate.
Where should a participant download the required software?
Use the link supplied by your exam organiser. For TrustExam, start with the invitation and Help Center, rather than a download intended for another institution or product.
Explore TrustExam exam security, compare proctoring modes, and prepare a demo with your permitted tools.