About Honorlock BrowserGuard for Canvas Exams

About Honorlock BrowserGuard for Canvas Exams

Honorlock BrowserGuard is part of the Canvas exam virtual proctoring process. BrowserGuard helps maintain a secure testing environment by limiting access to unapproved websites, browser actions, tools, and outside resources during a proctored exam. This article explains what BrowserGuard does, what students should expect during an Honorlock-proctored exam, and how to avoid common issues that may interrupt the exam session.
Quick Reminder: Students taking a virtually proctored exam through Honorlock do not need an access code to begin. If an access code message appears, Honorlock may not be fully installed, enabled, or active in the Chrome browser. 

What BrowserGuard Does

BrowserGuard helps protect the integrity of Canvas exams by keeping students within the approved testing environment. During an Honorlock-proctored exam, BrowserGuard may prevent or flag actions that are not allowed by the exam rules.
During the exam, students should not:
  • Use split-screen mode.
  • Use right-click functions.
  • Copy and paste exam content.
  • Access outside websites or unapproved resources.
  • Use a secondary monitor or additional screen.
  • Minimize, close, or leave the active testing window.
  • Open unnecessary tabs, applications, or browser extensions.
Important: Leaving the testing window, opening unapproved materials, or using restricted browser actions may interrupt the exam or result in the session being flagged for review.

All official letters regarding academic misconduct and warnings in our courses are thoroughly reviewed. Students who may have been flagged for academic integrity concerns will be officially notified via email by our team at Instructionalservices@tel-education.org for our records

Approved Open-Course Exam Tabs

When open-course content is approved during exams, students are typically allowed to use one Chrome browser window with two tabs open.

Allowed Tab Purpose
Tab 1 The active exam questions.
Tab 2 The approved open-course content.

Students should open only the approved course materials described in their exam instructions. Opening extra tabs, duplicating course pages, using outside resources, or visiting unrelated websites may cause connection issues or result in the exam being flagged for review.

Course-Specific Exception: For the English Composition I Final Exam, certain blue resource links may open in a new tab when clicked. These approved resources may also be available through the Honorlock toolbar under the allowed resources list.

For more information, review the Open-Course Exam Overview: https://teleducation.zohodesk.com/portal/en/kb/articles/open

How to Avoid BrowserGuard Issues

Students can usually avoid BrowserGuard issues by preparing the testing device before starting the exam.
  • Use Google Chrome on a laptop, desktop, or Chromebook.
  • Install and enable the Honorlock Chrome extension before opening the exam.
  • Close extra tabs, applications, downloads, and browser windows.
  • Disable non-essential browser extensions, including VPNs, ad blockers, or security extensions that may interfere with Honorlock.
  • Use only one monitor or screen.
  • Keep the exam window open and active until the exam is submitted.
  • Do not use the browser Back button during the exam.
Back Button Warning: Clicking the Back button on the exam page may cause connection loss. If this happens, refresh the page immediately, confirm Honorlock is still active, and select Resume on the exam page.

If You See an Access Code Message

Students using Honorlock virtual proctoring do not need an access code to begin the exam. If an access code message appears, this usually means Honorlock has not been fully installed, enabled, or activated on the testing device.

To fix this, students should:

  1. Confirm they are using Google Chrome.
  2. Install or enable the Honorlock Chrome extension.
  3. Check the Chrome puzzle-piece icon in the top-right corner to confirm Honorlock is active.
  4. Refresh the exam page and try again.

Students may use the following Honorlock guide to install and enable the extension: Install the Honorlock Extension

If Your Exam Freezes or Disconnects

Once an exam begins, the timer will continue to run and will not pause. This includes situations where the student accidentally closes the exam window, refreshes the page, loses connection, or temporarily exits the exam.

If the exam freezes or disconnects, students should:

  1. Refresh the page.
  2. Confirm Honorlock is active in the Chrome browser.
  3. Return to the exam page.
  4. Select Resume to continue the exam.
Important: Honorlock must be active before a student can re-enter or continue a proctored exam.

BrowserGuard and Live Honorlock Support

During an Honorlock-proctored exam, a live Honorlock agent may pop into the exam's chat window to assist if the student has trouble with identity verification, the room scan, or exam access.

If a live agent does not appear after a few moments, students may select the Chat with Support button, shown as a conversation bubble in the Honorlock toolbar.

Honorlock support can help with live proctoring steps, identity verification, and technical issues that occur during the Honorlock exam session.

Honorlock support will not have any course-specific information and cannot make any adjustments in Canvas.
When to Contact TEL Support

If students need Canvas assistance or are unable to continue the exam after following the steps above, they should contact TEL Support as soon as possible at support@tel-education.org. 

When contacting support, students should include a brief explanation of the issue and any helpful screenshots. This allows TEL Support to review the situation and provide more specific troubleshooting guidance.

Reminder: Canvas instructors do not manage Honorlock BrowserGuard or technical exam access. For exam access issues or Honorlock troubleshooting, please contact the TEL Support team instead of the course instructor.

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