My school requires Respondus LockDown Browser for exams. I'm concerned because it changes system settings, may use low-level components, monitors activity during tests, and could be difficult to remove afterward. I rely on my personal HP Victus for projects, photos, and other files, so I don't want to risk making it unusable or having to reinstall Windows. Would installing Windows and the browser on an external SSD or a separate internal drive keep my main installation safe? Would dual-booting or using a virtual machine work, or would the software detect and block those options? I'm not very experienced with computer setup and need a solution I can prepare within a few days.
5 Answers
The safest option is to use a separate computer that you don’t depend on, such as a refurbished business laptop. Ask the school whether they can provide one or offer an alternative. Even if the software is legitimate, installing monitoring or low-level components on your primary personal machine creates unnecessary risk, and simply uninstalling it may not fully restore every change.
Lockdown Browser is not automatically malware just because it restricts the computer and performs monitoring; it is commonly used for supervised exams. That said, you should verify exactly what the school requires, read its privacy policy, back up important files, and avoid installing it on a computer you cannot afford to reset. Ask the school for an officially supported alternative before modifying your main system.
A separate Windows installation is generally a better approach than installing it in your everyday setup. You could use a second internal drive or an external SSD and dual-boot into it only for exams. The operating systems are largely isolated, but you still need to be careful with shared files, firmware settings, and accidental boot selection. The external drive also needs to be reliable and fast enough for Windows.
Creating another Windows user account is not the same as isolating the software. A separate user can protect files from ordinary access restrictions, but system-level components and device-wide settings can still affect the whole installation. For meaningful separation, use a separate computer or a dedicated dual-boot installation, and confirm with the school that the chosen setup is supported.
A virtual machine could isolate the software from your normal Windows installation, but it may not work. Some lockdown browsers detect virtual machines, require hardware features they can’t access virtually, or refuse to run outside a standard installation. If your school’s software has VM detection or does not support Linux, dual-booting or a separate laptop is more realistic.
I checked the university policy but couldn’t find much detail about the software. I’m in Qatar, and I’m still uncomfortable giving it access to my personal computer when I use that machine for everything.