Proctorio FAQ for Students

Do you have additional questions? Please send us an e-mail at: fragen@proctorio.de

Data Protection and Security

Your data is stored at Proctorio’s European data center, which is located in Frankfurt.

Through Zero-Knowledge encryption, we ensure that only the responsible institution receives the key to decrypt the data. No other party has access to the data, not even Proctorio. 

The data process is audited by Proctorio’s Data Protection Officer and is continuously monitored by the institutions’ Data Protection Officers.

Data will be automatically deleted after the period of time specified by the institution. This period may be 30, 180 or 365 days, depending on the retention periods applicable to the institution. In rare cases, retention periods of 2-3 years may occur. Please contact your institution to find out your exact data retention period.

The data process is audited by Proctorio’s Data Protection Officer and is continuously monitored by the institutions‘ Data Protection Officers.

No. The Proctorio data center for Europe is located in Frankfurt and is isolated from all other Proctorio data centers. There is no connection between Proctorio’s data centers.

Our Test-Taker’s data is secured and processed through three layers of encryption:

  1. The zero-knowledge layer is secured using AES-GCM before it leaves the test taker’s device, using encryption keys never shared with Proctorio
  2. Transmission into the datacenter is only over TLS 1.2 or 1.3 and, if the client supports it, we use Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS).
  3. Data at rest within the data center is encrypted using AES-256 and is FIPS 140-2 compliant. All data centers are ISO 27001 certified, SOC 2 attested.

The IDs are only recorded for the required ID verification and are transmitted to the examiner in encrypted form. See also „Where is my data stored?“, „When will my data be deleted?“ and „How is my data encrypted?“.

Proctorio does not store any ID documents. Proctorio offers two options for ID verification:

  • An automated ID verification process where the recording is sent in encrypted form via the cloud directly to the institution for verification.
  • A live ID verification where an authorized Proctorio agent receives a copy of the recording in encrypted form for verification. This encrypted copy is not stored and is removed upon completion of verification.

The Room Scan is an optional setting that your examiner can use as an additional security feature. This is to ensure that no forbidden aids are used for the examination that are outside the camera’s field of view (e.g. mobile phone, notepad or textbook). Only your examiner can and will evaluate the Room Scan.

Consider in advance which room you want to use for the exam. You can also take your exam at another location as long as you can ensure sufficient quiet (e.g. office). If you still feel uncomfortable doing so, please contact your institution. Most institutions offer the alternative of a face-to-face exam.

No. If a Room Scan has been selected by your examiner, you will be prompted to record a Room Scan at the beginning of the exam and, if necessary, again during the exam.

Technical Questions

To take an exam with Proctorio, all you need is a standard PC/laptop with a webcam, a microphone and a stable Internet connection. To ensure all required elements are in place, please review the minimum technical requirements.

A summary of the technical requirements:

 

Windows

Mac

Linux

Chrome OS

Operating System

Windows 7+

Mac OSX 10.11+

Ubuntu 18.04+

Chrome 58+

Processor

Intel Pentium or better

Intel or M1 Chip

Intel Pentium or better

Intel Pentium or ARM

Free Disk Space

250 MB

250 MB

250 MB

250 MB

Free RAM

2 GB1

2 GB1

2 GB1

2 GB1

Upload Speed

0,092 Mbit/s – 0,189 Mbit/s2

Microphone

Any microphone, either internal or external3

Webcam

320×240 VGA resolution (minimum) internal or external3

1 Free RAM is the minimum amount of memory that is not in use by other applications.

2 Depends on the exam settings, secure browser has no upload speed requirement.

3 Only required for proctoring, secure browser functionality does not require audio/visual recording.

If you have any questions about the technical requirements, please contact: https://proctorio.com/support 

A standard PC/laptop generally fulfils all technical requirements. To make sure, please compare your computer to the minimum technical requirements.

A summary of the technical requirements:

 

Windows

Mac

Linux

Chrome OS

Operating System

Windows 7+

Mac OSX 10.11+

Ubuntu 18.04+

Chrome 58+

Processor

Intel Pentium or better

Intel or M1 Chip

Intel Pentium or better

Intel Pentium or ARM

Free Disk Space

250 MB

250 MB

250 MB

250 MB

Free RAM

2 GB1

2 GB1

2 GB1

2 GB1

Upload Speed

0,092 Mbit/s – 0,189 Mbit/s2

Microphone

Any microphone, either internal or external3

Webcam

320×240 VGA resolution (minimum) internal or external3

1 Free RAM is the minimum amount of memory that is not in use by other applications.

2 Depends on the exam settings, secure browser has no upload speed requirement.

3 Only required for proctoring, secure browser functionality does not require audio/visual recording.

If you have any questions about the technical requirements, please contact: https://proctorio.com/support 

A standard PC/laptop generally fulfils all technical requirements regarding RAM and CPU. In addition, make sure that you have a webcam, a microphone and a stable internet connection.

A summary of the technical requirements:

 

Windows

Mac

Linux

Chrome OS

Operating System

Windows 7+

Mac OSX 10.11+

Ubuntu 18.04+

Chrome 58+

Processor

Intel Pentium or better

Intel or M1 Chip

Intel Pentium or better

Intel Pentium or ARM

Free Disk Space

250 MB

250 MB

250 MB

250 MB

Free RAM

2 GB1

2 GB1

2 GB1

2 GB1

Upload Speed

0,092 Mbit/s – 0,189 Mbit/s2

Microphone

Any microphone, either internal or external3

Webcam

320×240 VGA resolution (minimum) internal or external3

1 Free RAM is the minimum amount of memory that is not in use by other applications.

2 Depends on the exam settings, secure browser has no upload speed requirement.

3 Only required for proctoring, secure browser functionality does not require audio/visual recording.

If you have any questions about the technical requirements, please contact: https://proctorio.com/support 

Face recognition does not capture biometric data, it just makes sure that the system can distinguish a face from a houseplant. It’s similar to the technology used in smartphones to automatically snap a photo when you smile.

Using Proctorio’s face recognition technology, the system can detect if your line of sight is still directed at the screen. The system detects anomalies through increased movements in one direction and marks these incidents as potentially suspicious. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t allowed to look away when you are pausing to think. As long as you’re not using any forbidden aids, you don’t have to worry.

No. The Proctorio extension only becomes active when you enter an exam and automatically becomes inactive when you hand in the exam. You are of course free to uninstall the extension after the exam or to deactivate it in the Chrome extensions. 

No. The Proctorio extension only becomes active when you enter an exam and automatically becomes inactive when you hand in the exam. You are of course free to uninstall the extension after the exam or to deactivate it in the Chrome extensions. 

No. When installing the Proctorio extension, you grant the „Identify and eject storage devices“ permission. The default name for this access authorization can be misleading. We need this permission to verify that your computer meets the system requirements. If you encounter a technical problem before or during a test, this information may help us to better assist you.

The 3 layers of encryption ensure that no external factors can affect your data (See also „How my data is encrypted?“).

When your internet connection is interrupted during an exam, you can either re-enter the exam directly or you may need to contact your examiner or Proctorio Support to re-enter the exam. The procedure varies depending on the settings configured by your examiner. You will generally be informed before the exam as to which procedure applies in your case. Otherwise, please contact your examiner.

Currently, the Proctorio extension is only available through the Chrome browser. Support for additional browsers is already being planned for future product versions. 

No. From a technical point of view, the automated processes of Proctorio actually offer the advantage of a very objective evaluation.   

Online exams with Proctorio offer many advantages. First and foremost, the objective and neutral evaluation, thanks to the automated exam supervision, are highly advantageous. In addition, online exams can be taken independent of time and location, which results in lower travel costs and therefore lower CO2 emissions.

The exam timer set for the exam will start as soon as you enter the exam. To allow you to pass the pre-checks without any time loss, the set exam time is extended by 5-10 minutes.

You will not lose any time during the pre-checks, as the fixed examination time is extended by 5-10 minutes, so you have enough time to go through the pre-checks. Pre-checks normally take 2-3 minutes.  

During Room Scans, the timer will keep running but your examiner will have accounted for this when setting up the exam. Still, you should complete the Room Scan immediately and return to your exam right away so that you don’t lose any additional time.

Your examiner sets the supervision settings for each exam individually. The examiner can also determine the severity of those settings. The point at which a behavior is flagged as suspicious thus varies from exam to exam and is always evaluated in comparison to other exam participants.  As long as you follow the exam rules, you will not be marked as suspicious. You will generally be informed before the exam about which exam rules you must observe. If not, please contact your examiner. 

No, you do not need to fear any adverse effects on the result of your examination. Although the severity level is determined by your examiner for each exam and may vary in severity, you need not worry as long as you do not use any unauthorized aids and follow the exam rules.

The permissions are essential for the functionality of the settings that your examiner has set for the exam. Find out what the individual permissions are used for in „What does Proctorio do with the permissions I grant to the Proctorio extension?“

Here are some additional details about the Proctorio extension permissions and what they are used for:

  • READ AND MODIFY ALL YOUR DATA ON THE WEBSITES YOU VISIT
     This setting is triggered by the Chrome Tab Capture API to record tabs that you open during an exam. It does not mean that the extension will read or change anything on the web pages you visit. The tab capture is optionally set by the examiner and not enforced by Proctorio. This message is also triggered by the <all_urls> declaration, which allows the extension to recognize the exam. If Proctorio would not obtain this permission, each individual institution would need its own extension or Proctorio would be forced to issue permission updates for each new customer. Both options would make the process more complex for you.
  • CAPTURE THE CONTENTS OF YOUR SCREEN
     Some exams require a desktop recording. This is determined exclusively by your examiner and/or your institution. This authorization allows Proctorio to record your screen during an exam. This technique conceals sensitive information. Proctorio Support can also use this to provide fast and effective technical support. Screen recording cannot be started automatically. Google Chrome offers you another layer of protection by asking you for permission to share your screen a second time. This happens each time screen sharing is required. Google Chrome notifies you at the bottom of your screen when the recording is running. You can manually stop screen recording at any time. Once an exam is submitted, Proctorio will always automatically stop screen recording.
  • MANAGE YOUR DOWNLOADS 
     If your examiner has disabled the ability to download files during an exam, Proctorio will use this permission to block downloads. Proctorio only checks your downloads during the exam. Proctorio only uses this permission to prevent examiners from downloading content during an exam. Like all blocking settings, this only applies if your examiner has enabled it.
  • MANAGE YOUR APPLICATIONS, EXTENSIONS AND INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS
     
    Sometimes another app or extension can cause conflicts with Proctorio. This permission allows Proctorio to identify which other extensions are installed to check for possible problems. Proctorio will never download or change your individual settings. Proctorio uses this permission to automatically activate and deactivate Chromevox (in case of accessibility features). This permission also allows you to temporarily disable extensions or applications during an exam.
  • DISPLAY NOTIFICATIONS 
     This permission allows Proctorio to display important notifications while you are in an exam.
  • MODIFY DATA THAT YOU COPY AND PASTE
     If the examiner has disabled your ability to copy and paste during an exam, Proctorio will use this permission to delete your clipboard. Proctorio cannot see the contents of your clipboard. These permissions are only active while you are in a supervised exam.
  • IDENTIFYING AND EJECTING STORAGE DEVICES
     We will not eject any of your storage devices. This authorization allows Proctorio to check if your computer meets the system requirements. If you encounter a technical problem before or during a check, this information can help us to better support you.
  • CHANGE YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS
     Proctorio uses Olark (https://www.olark.com/) to provide proactive chat support. Olark requires (https://www.olark.com/help/cookies) that your third-party cookies are enabled. Therefore, we need your permission to enable third-party cookies in your Chrome browser under your privacy settings.

Whether the accidental zooming is flagged as suspicious depends on the exam settings set by your institution’s examiner.
If the corresponding settings are activated, zooming in is only included in the examination protocol, but is not recorded as an attempt to cheat so you do not have to worry about your exam results being affected.

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