Honorlock and Respondus LockDown Browser (with Respondus Monitor) are two of the most widely deployed proctoring tools in higher education. If your university uses either of these — or both — this guide tells you exactly what they monitor, how strict each one is, and what actually gets flagged for review.
What Is Honorlock?
Honorlock is a browser extension-based proctoring system used primarily by universities. It combines AI monitoring with on-demand human proctors. What makes Honorlock distinctive is its "live intervention" model — a human proctor can join your session at any time if the AI flags something suspicious.
Honorlock monitors: webcam feed, screen recording, AI face detection, gaze tracking, audio recording, and network traffic. It also uses a proprietary technology to detect if you're attempting to access a secondary device like a phone (via shared WiFi analysis).
What Is LockDown Browser?
Respondus LockDown Browser is a locked browser that prevents students from opening other applications or navigating away during an exam. When combined with Respondus Monitor, it adds webcam recording (AI-analyzed after the exam, not live).
LockDown Browser itself doesn't monitor — it restricts. Respondus Monitor adds the monitoring layer. The key difference from Honorlock: there's no live human proctor joining during the exam in standard Monitor mode. Flags are reviewed afterward by the instructor or a third-party reviewer.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Honorlock | LockDown Browser + Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam recording | ✓ | ✓ |
| Screen recording | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live human proctor | ✓ (on-demand) | ✗ |
| AI face detection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gaze tracking | ✓ | Limited |
| Phone detection | ✓ (WiFi) | ✗ |
| Browser lockdown | ✓ | ✓ (stronger) |
| Audio recording | ✓ | ✓ |
What Each One Flags
Honorlock flags: Looking away repeatedly, face leaving frame, multiple faces detected, background noise or voices, phone signal detected on network, screen switching attempts, and physical environmental concerns from the room scan.
Respondus Monitor flags: Gaze deviation patterns, head movement inconsistencies, background sounds, face detection issues (poor lighting, face leaving frame), and any application-switching or window-switching attempts (blocked by LockDown Browser, but attempts are logged).
How Strict Is Each One?
Honorlock is stricter because of its live human proctor capability. A proctor can join at any time and interact with you — asking you to show your room again, show your desk, or even end the session. Automated flags are also reviewed by Honorlock's team before being sent to instructors.
Respondus Monitor is less strict in real time — there's no live intervention during the exam. However, the AI-flagged recording is reviewed by your instructor or a third party after the exam. Flag severity varies significantly by institution — some instructors review every flag, others only look at high-confidence anomalies.
Tips for Both Platforms
- Install the required extension or software well before exam day and run the system check
- Ensure good lighting — your face should be clearly visible, not backlit or in shadow
- Keep your desk completely clear of unauthorized materials
- Silence all devices and close all other applications before launching the exam
- For Honorlock: disconnect all secondary devices from your WiFi network if possible
- Stay within the webcam frame throughout — don't lean back or to the sides excessively
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