Securely executing an application on a computer system
A method of and system for securely executing an application on a computer system such that a user of the computer system cannot access or view unauthorized content available on the computer system or accessible using the computer system. To securely execute an such method and system may terminate any unauthorized processes executing (i.e., running) on the computer system application prior to execution of the application, and may configure the application such that unauthorized content cannot be accessed, including configuring the application such that unauthorized processes cannot be initiated (i.e., launched) by the application. Further, such system and method may terminate any unauthorized processes detected during execution of the application, and may disable any functions of the computer system that are capable of accessing unauthorized content, including disabling any functions capable of initiating processes on the computer system. The application being securely executed may be any of a variety of types of applications, for example, a browser application or an application for receiving answers to questions of an examination (i.e., an exam-taking application). Securely executing an application may be used for any of a variety of purposes, including, among other purposes, to assist preventing students from cheating on exams, to assist preventing students from not paying attention in class, to assist preventing employees from wasting time at work, and to assist preventing children from viewing content that their parents deem inappropriate.
1. A method for securely administering a computer-based examination, the method comprising:
providing a set of authorized application processes, the set of authorized application processes comprising processes other than essential operating system processes that are permitted to execute on a computer;
monitoring commands being provided to the computer during the provision of an electronic examination, the commands instructing the computer to execute one or more requested processes;
determining if one or more of the requested processes are in the set of authorized application processes to be executed during provisioning of the examination;
prohibiting the execution of any requested processes that are not in the set of authorized processes while allowing the provisioning of the examination to continue; and
transmitting an alert that an attempt was made to execute a prohibited process.
2. A system for securely administering a computer-based examination, the system comprising;
a data storage module for storing a set of authorized application processes, the authorized processes comprising processes other than essential operating system processes that are permitted to execute on a computer; and
a security module for:
monitoring, during the administration of the examination, commands being provided to the computer, the commands instructing the computer to execute one or more requested processes for execution on the computer;
determining if one or more of the requested processes are in the set of authorized application processes to be executed during provisioning of the examination;
blocking the execution of those requested processes that are not in the set of authorized processes while allowing the provisioning of the examination to continue; and
transmitting an alert that an attempt was made to execute a prohibited process.