Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 3.3.2:

SEB 3.3.2 fixes issues regarding file download, the Settings (formerly known as Preferences) window and allows exporting uncompressed configuration files (for example for directly importing it into Moodle). Also contains several security fixes: We therefore recommend to update soon! 

New in SEB 3.3.2:

  • Added option to save settings "for starting an exam" uncompressed as plain text in the Save As… dialog. This is helpful for importing these configuration files into LMS/exam systems which don't support gzip compressed or encrypted config files (for example Moodle) or for manual editing.
  • WebInspector for debugging websites directly inside SEB using the modern WebView works now (no longer flickers if invoked on a website using the activated right mouse button and context menu option "Inspect Element").
  • Fixed some edge cases when the lock screen for "Prohibited process locked SEB" was displayed unnecessarily.
  • Fixed: Overriding security options in lock screen wasn't reset when reconfiguring.
  • Fixed that lock screen override for specific prohibited processes didn't work correctly.
  • The check for specific prohibited processes can now be overridden multiple times (again for newly detected prohibited processes).
  • Fixed: Wrong Browser Exam Key was displayed when starting SEB with alt/option key to directly display Settings (Preferences) window.
  • Fixed: Revert to Defaults doesn't remove outdated settings.
  • Fixed wrong message that settings were edited when closing Settings (Preferences) window (SEB started with alt/option key) even when no changes were performed.
  • Fixed crash when downloading files.
  • Fixed: No error message was displayed when attempting to download/open SEB configurations while this is disabled.
  • SEB no longer freezes on Quit button in "System Security Feature Disabled" lock screen.
  • Fixed: Javascript pop-up was not opening with activated URL filter.
  • Fixed: Reconfiguration after login didn't close additional browser windows.
  • Now preventing display of "Browse Time Machine Backups".
  • Fixed SEB Server Browser Exam Key is not recognized by Moodle when classic WebView is used.
  • Added workaround for SEB Server bug to send Browser Exam Key (BEK) in HTTP headers when Server BEK is used, even if setting sendBrowserExamKey = false
  • Fixed aspect ratio scaling of Settings (Preferences) window. Removed horizontal ruler in Security pane.
  • Fixed updating Browser Exam Key salt when using Save As (always) and Save (never) for exam config.
  • Extended error message when Zoom proctoring is enabled in settings with "Due to Zoom licensing issues, Zoom live proctoring is only available for SEB Alliance members. Please see https://safeexambrowser.org/alliance.".
  • Added a new error case to prevent prohibited process locked SEB lock screen being displayed for "No such process" (already terminated).
  • Remove the outdated setting allowWLAN (which causes problems when calculating the Config Key) when saving configurations.
  • Fixed: Wrong BEK displayed after saving a config.
  • Changed reporting interval for still running processes from 3 to 30 seconds.
  • Log console view in lock screens should now correctly scroll to bottom (if it was at the bottom before the new log entry appears).
  • Increased maximum height of log console scroll view to prevent longer logs to get cut off.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 3.3:

SEB 3.3 improves accessibility and security and allows to export SEB settings as configuration links or QR codes.

When using the optional SEB Server, the App Signature Key functionality allows automated application integrity checks similar to the manual use of the Browser Exam Key. Additionally, the new server-driven Browser Exam Key can be used for improved SEB Server integration with LMS/assessment systems like Moodle.

New in SEB 3.3:

  • Accessibility improvements: Menu to select open webpages (on SEB icon in the SEB Dock) can now be opened using VoiceOver with the VO-Shift-M shortcut (in addition to right click).
  • Improved accessibility announcements on various UI elements, also in SEB's Preferences menu.
  • Improved VoiceOver feedback when opening lock screens.
  • Support exporting SEB settings as configuration links and QR codes containing full SEB configuration. With these config links or QR codes it's no longer necessary to store a config file on a server.
  • Now it's possible to generate and save QR codes containing full SEB configurations directly as PNG image files from the Preferences menu. These can currently directly be used with the iOS version or with third party tools on Mac/Windows.
  • Added option to export SEB settings as an unencrypted plist file for the MDM Managed Configuration feature (currently supported by iOS SEB clients).
  • New setting for removing default key/values from saved config files, which decreases size significantly (for example removing default prohibited processes). This is by default used for generated config link and QR code configurations and helpful for iOS MDM configuration for example with Jamf.
  • Unencrypted SEB configuration files for starting exams are now saved compressed with gzip. If you need to save unencrypted plain text config files, use the MDM Managed Configuration format and change the file extension to .seb.
  • Changed title of Config Files Preferences pane to "Configurations" and updated terminology.
  • Changed default value for SEB Config purpose to Starting an Exam.
  • Added separate allow downloads/uploads settings (allowDownloads = default true, allowUploads = default true), using AND with existing, but deprecated setting allowDownUploads.
  • Fixed wrong Windows setting to allowCustomDownUploadLocation
  • Don't create XULRunner URL filter rules anymore.
  • Changed some outdated default values.
  • Now keeping 20 log files instead of 7 (max. disk space: 20 MB).
  • Fixed logging in Swift classes and log level Error not working.
  • Now preventing that a web application can close the SEB main browser window (the one containing the exam page).
  • Fixed web application couldn't close a classic WebView.
  • Now using ConfigKey to identify stored running exam session for lock screen. This should avoid unnecessary lock screens if a new exam is opened, which is using the same start URL as an older locked exam.
  • Added new module to verify application integrity.
  • Added Chrome Remote Desktop Host to preset prohibited processes.
  • Added SEB version in Starting Exam (exam/settings) password dialog.
  • Changed minimal required macOS version to macOS 10.13.
  • Added macOS 14 Sonoma to the settings options for minimal required macOS version (and iOS 17 to the iOS settings) in Preferences/Security.
  • Fixed a possible concurrency crash when removing process list element.

Optional features which need to be individually configured and are disabled by default

  • App Signature Key functionality, which allows automated application integrity checks similar to the manual use of the Browser Exam Key (no copy-paste of hash string necessary).
  • New server-driven Browser Exam Key which can be used for improved SEB Server integration with LMS/assessment systems like Moodle. This feature allows full integration with Moodle, which requires an additional Moodle plugin to be installed (currently a [pre-release version](https://github.com/ethz-let/moodle-quizaccess_sebserver) is available).
  • Now showing "Disconnecting" window when quitting SEB Server session, for user feedback in case of connection issues.
  • Added error message alerts when specific steps of the connection process to a SEB Server exam fail, with more status messages in the SEB Server connection window.
  • Improved logging of SEB Server connections and fixed some error messages being too general.
  • Fixed a concurrency crash when quitting SEB with still active SEB Server connection when connection token may already have been invalidated.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 3.2.5:

New in SEB 3.2.5:

  • Fixed: Force Click lookup was working in the classic WebView on macOS 13 Ventura.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 3.2.4:

SEB 3.2 improves the optional support for SEB Server and adds many stability improvements.

New in SEB 3.2.4:

  • Blocking AnyGPT by default.
  • Fixed: Untimely modal alert freezes SEB. Modal alerts were sometimes displayed behind the black background covering windows.
  • Security improvements.
  • Fixed download directory bug from SEB 3.2.3 for macOS.
  • Now also showing "Downloads not Allowed" alert in modern WebView if settings don't allow downloads and in one case for downloads in classic WebView on macOS.
  • Now checking if download directory is correctly set when performing download in WKWebView. If not, the Downloads directory is used.
  • Now also correctly handling PDF files in modern WebView when downloading is disabled (then PDF files even with a "download" link are displayed instead of downloaded).
  • Considering the setting newBrowserWindowByLinkPolicy = openInSameWindow: Don't open a PDF in a new window then.
  • Now also handling settings "Open files after downloading" and "Download and open PDF files instead of displaying them inline" correctly in the modern WebView.
  • Fixed "Choose file to upload ... by only allowing to upload the same file downloaded before" policy, which was not working in the modern WebView. Also resetting previous download paths when reconfiguring SEB.
  • When using the optional SEB Server, an SEB client can be locked (with a red lock screen with optional, individual message) and unlocked again by the server.
  • Now sending notification to SEB Server when any lock screen is closed on client (by entering the quit password).
  • Fixed a notification issue when using the raise/lower hand feature.

New since 3.2.3/3.2.2/3.2.1:

  • Fixed downloads of website generated files (using "data:" protocol scheme) in modern WebView.
  • Now downloads of any file types and "blob:"-generated files are possible when using the modern WebView and macOS 11.3 or newer.
  • Fixed crash when closing some web pages.
  • Fixed: Force Click lookup was working in the modern WebView.
  • Fixed red lock screen after user switch disappeared without user action.
  • Latest TeamViewer version wasn't blocked by default.
  • Added fix for a possible crash when closing a temporary browser window while not running on the main thread.
  • Improved logging verbosity, to prevent log files to be full of repeating log events.
  • Added macOS 13 Ventura as option for minimum macOS version.
  • Fixed reload key shortcut not enabled correctly according to reload settings and selected window (main/additional).
  • Fixed a null reference exception in injected Javascript code, related to the "download" attribute on links.
  • Fixed Cancel button in the macOS SEB Server (optional) fallback password alert and improved alert feedback text in case of an empty fallback password.

Optional features which need to be individually configured and are disabled by default

  • Massively improved error handling when connecting to SEB Server with better error messages which can help SEB Server and exam administrators to fix server-side issues.
  • Added support for fallback option, when connecting to SEB Server fails completely. In that case, an alternative start URL can be configured and fallback optionally protected with a new password.
  • Improved sending log events, to prevent loosing single events due to temporary connectivity issues.
  • Now sending device info to SEB Server earlier in the connection process.
  • Renew expired SEB Server OAuth token.
  • Fixed cleaning up of pending requests to SEB Server.
  • Fixed missing pingInterval SEB Server connection setting caused pings being send continuously and SEB crashing after a while.

Note: This version does NOT contain the Zoom integration for exam proctoring or exam support which was contained in SEB 3.2rc. There is a non-public SEB Alliance Edition, which continues to support Zoom integration. If you are interested to use this Zoom integration, contact alliance@safeexambrowser.org.

Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 3.2.2:

SEB 3.2.2 improves the optional support for SEB Server and adds many stability improvements:

  • Fixed: Force Click lookup was working in the modern WebView.
  • Fixed red lock screen after user switch disappeared without user action.
  • Fixed: Latest TeamViewer version wasn't blocked by default.
  • Fixed: Reload key shortcut not enabled correctly according to reload settings and selected window (main/additional).
  • Fixed a null reference exception in injected Javascript code, related to the "download" attribute on links.

Optional features which need to be individually configured and are disabled by default

  • Massively improved error handling when connecting to SEB Server with better error messages which can help SEB Server and exam administrators to fix server-side issues.
  • Added support for fallback option, when connecting to SEB Server fails completely. In that case, an alternative start URL can be configured and fallback optionally protected with a new password.
  • Improved stability in case of misconfigured SEB Server exams.
  • Improved sending log events, to prevent loosing single events due to temporary connectivity issues.
  • Now sending device info to SEB Server earlier in the connection process.
  • Renew expired SEB Server OAuth token.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 3.1.1:

SEB 3.1.1 for macOS solves various issues, supports screen sharing for web applications and improves support for the AAC Assessment (kiosk/lockdown) Mode.

  • SEB should download PDF file instead of displaying it, when a "download" attribute or "Content-Disposition" header with attachment filename is present.
  • Display correct error message when downloading is disabled and attempting to download website generated files.
  • Fixed default and optional values for minimum macOS and iOS versions and iOS beta version.
  • New settings browserMediaCaptureCamera and browserMediaCaptureMicrophone (Preferences / Browser / Allow camera/microphone capture) for controlling browser access to camera/microphone (WebRTC or still pictures/audio recording). If these settings are enabled, users will be asked to grant access to camera/microphone for SEB before the according (exam) session is started. This prevents that these permission dialogs weren't displayed when the AAC Assessment kiosk mode was used. In macOS 12/iOS 15 or later, disabling these settings prevents web applications from accessing camera/microphone in any case.
  • Fixed AAC Assessment Mode availability check according to feedback from Apple that AAC works without DNS pre-pinning only on macOS 12.1 or newer (and probably on macOS Catalina 10.15.4 and >=10.15.6).
  • Added DNS pre-pinning when using AAC on macOS <12.1, according to new setting aacDnsPrePinning (Preferences / Security / Use AAC with DNS pre-pinning). SEB will then resolve all domains from settings Start URL and URL filter Allow rules before activating AAC (as in macOS <12.1 DNS lookup during AAC doesn't work). You can define allow rules and if you don't actually need URL filtering, deactivate it afterwards (Preferences / Network / Activate URL filtering) or deactivate single URL filter rules with its Active property. To ensure that DNS lookup works for your web application, you need to add all domains and subdomains as Allow filter rules (don't forget for example domains which are contacted for single-sign-on). Note: Without activating the setting aacDnsPrePinning (Preferences / Security / Use AAC with DNS pre-pinning), AAC will only be used on macOS Catalina 10.15.4 and >=10.15.6 and macOS Monterey 12.1 or newer (not on macOS Big Sur 11.0 - Monterey 12.0). If you want to enforce the use of AAC on all these systems, you either need to use the Use AAC with DNS pre-pinning setting or enforce that only macOS 12.1 or newer is used (Preferences / Security / Allow running from macOS version / Check full macOS version number / enter 12 for Major version number and 1 for Minor version number).
  • Now supporting full screen for web videos, but because of macOS limitations this only works with modern WebView and the AAC Assessment Mode (not the default SEB kiosk mode). If you cannot enforce using AAC, you have to implement a pseudo full screen display (enlarging video to the full browser window) in your web application.
  • Fixed Javascript window.open() didn't return window object.
  • Fixed setting allowDownUploads wasn't updated from client config when starting with seb(s) settings. In that case "Download not allowed" is displayed even if exam settings have downloads allowed.
  • Improved user interface on MacBook Pro with camera notch (bump).
  • Support for getDisplayMedia() API for WebRTC screen sharing when running on macOS 11 Big Sur, macOS 12 Monterey or macOS 13 Ventura Beta 4 or later. Requires new setting browserMediaCaptureScreen = true (default value is false).
  • Fixed iFrame contents not displayed.
  • Fixed media continues to play after the originating browser tab is closed in modern WebView.
  • Fixed error when connecting to SEB Server (optional, needs to be configured individually) and the "expires_in" attribute in the Oauth token response is missing. Added proper optionality to other attributes in this token response JSON.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 3.1:

SEB 3.1 adds support for accessibility/VoiceOver, text search in browser windows, optional support for SEB Server and many stability improvements.

  • Implemented accessibility support using VoiceOver and tabulator keyboard navigation (if keyboard navigation in System Preferences/Keyboard/Shortcuts is activated).
  • Added new setting Preferences / Browser / "Tab focuses links" (key tabFocusesLinks, enabled by default) to allow to use tabulator key to move between links and controls on a web page.
  • Improved accessibility in Preferences: Fixed tabbing to controls only worked in first preferences pane displayed. Fixed tab order of some buttons in Config pane.
  • Refactored SEB Javascript API to update the SafeExamBrowser.security.browserExamKey and security.configKey variables directly when loading a web page, without having to call the security.updateKeys(callback) function.
  • Added a custom reload() method to the SEB macOS WKWebView, so that the BEK/CK variables are set correctly also after a reload of a web page.
  • Now updateKeys() can also be called without a callback method.
  • Now supporting page zoom with pinch-to-zoom on a Mac trackpad (when using modern WebView and page zoom is enabled in SEB settings).
  • Added settings for default page level (defaultPageZoomLevel) and default text zoom level (defaultTextZoomLevel) in Preferences / User Interface.
  • Now also limiting zoom to predefined minimum and maximum levels. These settings currently only work in the modern WebView.
  • Added new macOS 12/iOS 15 API to prevent the repeatedly displayed WebRTC permissions dialog for a website to use camera/microphone access.
  • Added text search for web pages: Use the search icon in the browser window toolbar or cmd-F. This feature is not available in the full screen mode main window. Search in PDFs works only in modern WebView and macOS >=11 (currently not in iOS).
  • Added preset prohibited process for Universal Control.
  • Added missing SEB for Windows (3.3.2) settings to Preferences.
  • Added basic settings for SEB Server to Preferences / General.
  • Added automatic reload when web content process terminated in modern WebView.
  • Added separate macOS setting for allowing right mouse click: Preferences / Browser / Enable right mouse, key enableRightMouseMac.
    Implemented Javascript text input panel (see issue #163 ).
  • Fixed clearing cookies and web cashes etc. when quitting SEB.
  • Now logging macOS version in SEB logs.
  • Changed log level of very repetitive events to Verbose, to improve usefulness of logs when using SEB Server.
  • Fixed starting SEB with exam configuration when client settings are secure (have a quit password set).
  • Fixed keyboard shortcuts and menu bar menu items for reload and page/text zoom.
  • Removed/updated SEB Win 2.x settings in Browser pane (Allow video/audio capture), User Interface pane ("Enable touch exit (Win)",
    "Zoom mode Win (Ctrl-Mousewheel)") and Security pane / Hooked Keys (Enable right mouse now only for Win).
  • Updated text (and tool tip) for SEB Win 2.x settings "Remote profile (Win" in Browser pane to "Clear cache (Win)".
  • Fixed conditional reload button display, reload warning and navigation settings.
  • Fixed web page title/URL wasn't updated after reload in modern WebView.
  • Now supporting the settings browserWindowShowURL/newBrowserWindowShowURL = browserWindowShowURLAlways also in SEB for macOS.
  • Fixed: SEB attempts to download PDF file instead of displaying it.
  • Fixed: Session cookies not persisted in Moodle from webpage in WKWebView to downloading config to page in WKWebView.
  • Fixed another rare case of session cookies not persisted in Moodle from webpage with WKWebView to another page with WKWebView.
  • Attempt to fix SEBOSXWKWebViewController didReceiveAuthenticationChallenge randomly crashes on Apple Silicon (see issue #176 ).
  • Updated alert text to "Force Quit window or another system frontmost dialog".
  • Safe Exam Browser Xcode build Scheme (macOS) is now set to "shared" and contained in the repository.
  • Fixed: Opening downloaded files doesn't work.
  • No longer transferring session cookies with same name and domain from NSHTTPCookieStorage to WKWebView httpCookieStore.
  • Fixed: Downloads didn't work.
  • Fixed PDF files with "download" tag parameter were not downloaded but displayed in modern WebView.
  • If downloading is disabled, PDF files with "download" tag parameter are displayed in a new browser window (and their file name is used as webpage/window title).
  • Fixed setting "download and open PDF files instead of displaying" didn't open downloaded PDF.
  • Fixed determining filenames which contain a space from "Content-Disposition" "attachment; filename="..."
  • Fixed PDF files which should be downloaded ("download" tag parameter) might not have been recognized.
  • Fixed saving paths of downloaded files for automatically choosing files for upload.
  • Fixed: Settings Preferences / Browser / "Enable JavaScript" and "Block pop-up windows" in modern WebView.
  • Fixed: (Apple) Messages app set as prohibited process is not quit by SEB.
  • Fixed: Time is truncated in SEB dock/taskbar when changing dock size for various dock sizes.
  • Fixed: SEB crashes when restarting while using full screen mode.
  • Fixed: Spellchecking not disabled in Moodle rich-text editor when using WKWebView.
  • Fixed: Legacy screen shot blocking not working.
  • Opted-out of Dark Mode in SEB for macOS.
  • Fixed: Copy-paste into text fields in Preferences window doesn't work.
  • Fixed: Paste from saved clipboard doesn't work when SEB is started with held option/alt key (to directly open the Preferences window).
  • SEB crashes when opening file upload dialogue: Fixed and added alert for uploading/downloading not allowed.
  • Fixed: Content-Disposition 'inline; ' interpreted as 'attachment; filename=...'
  • Fixed: Load error in WKWebView (at least for startURL) is not displayed.
  • Now stopping media playback when closing tab or quitting session (incl. fullscreen and PiP) in modern WebView (WKWebView) also when running on macOS 11.3 or newer.
  • "Prohibited Process Locked SEB" doesn't show process name/URL: Now process name and appURL information should always be displayed if it was available.
  • Attempting to fix unnecessarily displayed lock screen for process couldn't be terminated.
  • Added additional preset default prohibited process for AnyDesk.
    Fixed toolbar Reload button width in older macOS versions.

Optional features which need to be individually configured and are disabled by default

  • Support for lock screen notifications when connected to SEB Server. The notification is displayed with a bell symbol in front of the user name in the Running Exam monitoring view. Clicking the user name shows the error message which invoked a lock screen.
  • Lock screens can be unlocked from SEB Server (without having to communicate the Quit/Unlock password to students). Note that you have to confirm all pending lock screen notifications for a user if there are several before the lock screen closes.
  • Now sending computer/environment information to SEB Server (ONLY when connecting to an SEB Server instance is configured in individual settings): Local short user/account name, operating system version and device type (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), SEB version and machine name.
  • Now supporting battery monitoring by SEB Server.
  • Prevent reconfiguring an SEB Server exam with an exam config containing SEB Server connection settings.
  • Fixed implementation of general integration approach to receive the user identifier from an LMS and finish the handshake with SEB Server (currently supported by development versions of OpenOlat and Ans).
  • Implemented workaround for receiving Moodle user identifier when using a SSO system like AAI/Shibboleth (requires a special Moodle PHP script, temporary solution until the full SEB Server integration for Moodle is implemented).
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 3.0:

SEB 3.0 for macOS is a major update, supporting the modern WebKit browser engine and access to camera/microphone via WebRTC.

  • Support for the modern WebKit browser engine (WKWebView), which increases performance, stability and compatibility with web applications.

  • Access to camera/microphone (getUserMedia Web API) via WebRTC on macOS 11.1 Big Sur and newer. You can use web-based video conferencing and remote proctoring solutions, as long as the requirements explained below are met, so that SEB can use the modern WebView. Note: Apple currently doesn't support getDisplayMedia in WKWebView for screen sharing.

  • Due to refactored code using newer APIs, SEB 3.0 requires macOS 10.11 or later. We recommend to only use macOS versions which still receive security updates from Apple (the three most recent, currently macOS 10.14, 10.15 and 11).

  • When using the modern WebKit browser engine (WKWebView), SEB currently doesn't support URL content filters(only URL filters for links and page loading) and sending the Config Key and Browser Exam Key in HTTP headers (the latter feature will not be possible with WKWebView at all, so you will need to transition to the SEB JavaScript API in your web applications, see the developer documentation). If one of the settings sendBrowserExamKey=true or URLFilterEnableContentFilter=true is enabled, the classic WebView is used depending on the new setting Preferences/ Browser/"Select Browser Engine Policy" (key browserWindowWebView), "Prefer Modern in New Tab+Different Host" (value 2), ensures that you still can use testing systems/LMS like Moodle which use the Browser Exam/Config Key test for SEB connecting to the exam (as they open in the classic WebView), but webpages opened in new tabs, which have another host than the exam system, open in WKWebView.

  • Support for the new SEB JavaScript API for easier integration into exam solutions (currently for querying app version details, ConfigKey and BrowserExamKey security elements).

  • Support for restart session (Preferences/Exam/Link to quit SEB after exam/Restart instead of quitting) and quit SEB/session features, which are mostly interesting for managed Macs and kiosk environments: If client settings are secure (have a quit password set), SEB was not started with a seb(s) link or .seb file and an exam session is quit, SEB is not quit (terminated), but only the exam session (SEB is restarted with client settings).

  • Fixes security issue with "Revert to Client Settings" and "Configure Client" in Preferences window.

  • Private Clipboard is also supported when using the modern WebView (WKWebView) and working with commands in menu bar / Edit.

  • Added setting in Preferences / Security (allowMacOSVersionNumberCheckFull) for full control about minimal allowed macOS version (major/minor/patch version numbers, keys allowMacOSVersionNumberMajor/ allowMacOSVersionNumberMinor/ allowMacOSVersionNumberPatch).

  • Fixed issue with setting Preferences / Security / Enforce minimal macOS version.

  • Again asking for Admin password when settings aren't encrypted.

  • Use AAC kiosk mode only on macOS 15.4+ and 11.4+ (except 11.0 - 11.3, as there was an issue with DNS lookup. This caused pages with yet unknown domains to not load).

  • No longer using AAC modal alert workaround on macOS 12 Monterey (as an issue causing application modal alerts to be invisible was fixed there).

  • Page and text zoom now also fully work with WKWebView.

  • Fixed repeated drag-and-drop onto Preferences window. Note: files in iCloud drive need to be downloaded first in Finder (cloud icon in list view) before they can be dragged-dropped.

  • Fixed double toolbar icon for "General" pane when opening settings when the Preferences window already was open.

  • Fixed check if reconfiguring is allowed when a .seb config file is opened while SEB is running already (considering the Exam / Allow Reconfiguring setting).

  • Now also supporting gzip compressed, unencrypted .seb files.

  • Updated Network / Filter / Teach URL Filter feature for modern WebView (WKWebView). Note: If content filtering is enabled, classic WebView is used.

  • Fixed Teach URL Filter feature on macOS 11+ also for classic WebView.

  • Setting to enable WebInspector (developer tools) and remote inspection (only when running a debug build) is now functional in WKWebView, although the "Inspect Element" context menu (right mouse click must be enabled in settings as well) doesn't work correctly with WKWebView.

Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.3.2:

SEB 2.3.2 is a minor update for 2.3.1 with one bug fix:

  • When running on macOS 11 Big Sur on Intel CPU based Macs (tested on macOS 11.2.3), system processes displaying UI in the foreground were not recognized as system applications and terminated by SEB or locked SEB (displaying a red lock screen) if SEB couldn't terminate them. Now system processes should be identified correctly both on Intel and Apple Silicon based Macs.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.3.1:

SEB 2.3.1 is a maintenance update, which disables Automatic Assessment Configuration (AAC) macOS Assessment Mode in default settings, as it has a major issue when used on macOS 11 Big Sur. We recommend to not use AAC until this issue will be fixed in an upcoming macOS Big Sur update.

  • Changed default setting for AAC to disabled, using a new settings key enableMacOSAAC.
  • Block screen capture also when AAC is used (as AAC currently doesn't prevent screen capture reliably).
  • Fixed URL String from pasteboard to copy to Preferences/General/Start URL is not saved when SEB is started in AAC.
  • Clicking the close button of the running prohibited processes list window now quits SEB/the exam session.
  • Fixed force "Quit All Processes" alert was sometimes displayed behind process list window.
  • Fixed security issue with "Revert to Client Settings" and "Configure Client" in Preferences: Don't ask for client settings admin password if none is set.

Known issues while using Assessment Mode in macOS 11:

  • When running on macOS 11 Big Sur, DNS lookup fails while AAC is enabled. This is why SEB fails to load URLs with a different domain than the Start URL the first time it tries to connect to that URL. Usually it would connect to the according domain after quitting and starting SEB again (as the DNS lookup result is cached). The domain of the Start URL should always be loadable, as SEB reaches out to the Start URL before activating AAC.
  • When switching Preferences panes, the Preferences window sometimes disappear. Press cmd - , (comma key) in that case and the window appears again.
  • In the file dialog, you cannot change the file name when using "Save As".

Use the new feature to open the Preferences window without locking SEB: Hold the option/alt key when starting SEB by opening the app icon (or dropping a .seb configuration file onto the SEB app icon).

Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.3:
  • Support for Automatic Assessment Configuration (AAC) macOS Assessment Mode. AAC is used by default if running on macOS 10.15.4 or newer. Assessment Mode blocks various macOS features which shouldn't be accessible during exams. Also no other applications and processes running in the background can access the network while Assessment Mode is active.
  • Optionally, the old SEB kiosk mode can be used also on latest macOS versions (see Preferences / Security / "Use Assessment Mode (AAC) if available", settings key enableAAC), as AAC doesn't support optionally enabling features like like screen capture/sharing, Siri and Dictation. Assessment Mode also cannot be used if you want to run a video conferencing solution in the background during an exam for proctoring.
  • New options to enforce using the internal (built-in) display of a MacBook or iMac but optionally still allowing to use the external display on a Mac without built-in display (Mac Mini, Mac Pro).
  • Fixed an issue when calculating the Config Key for configuration files containing prohibited processes entries for both macOS and Windows.
  • New battery indicator in the SEB Dock, automatically displayed on devices with battery when the macOS menu bar with its battery indicator is disabled. This specifically applies when using Assessment Mode, as then the menu bar is always hidden.
  • Full compatibility with macOS 11 Big Sur.
  • Native support for Apple Silicon (universal binary).
  • Preferences window can be opened by holding the option/alt key when starting SEB (also when dropping a SEB configuration file onto the SEB icon).
  • Fixed drag-and-drop of configuration files onto the Preferences window. Note that files in iCloud drive need to be downloaded first (click the cloud icon in Finder's list view).
  • Added SEB 3.x for Windows settings to the Preferences window.
  • Improved starting SEB by opening settings, fixed some related issues.
  • Improved workaround for SEB freezing when a webpage tries to download a font.
  • Now scaling text of Dock Time item according to Dock height
  • Fixed a security issue regarding client settings in Preferences.
  • Changed default option/button for confirming quitting to "Quit" (helps if mouse control is lost).
  • Fixed code signature check for system processes in macOS 11.

Known issues while using Assessment Mode in macOS 11:

  • When switching Preferences panes, the Preferences window sometimes disappear. Press cmd - , (comma key) in that case and the window appears again.
  • In the file dialog, you cannot change the file name when using "Save As".

Use the new feature to open the Preferences window without locking SEB: Hold the option/alt key when starting SEB by opening the app icon (or dropping a .seb configuration file onto the SEB app icon).

Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.2.2:
  • Fixed that PDF documents were not displayed when Acrobat PDF viewer is installed.
  • Prevent Preferences window to be opened in Moodle 3.9 when using automatically generated settings (option "Configure manually"). SEB now uses the default setting allowPreferencesWindow=false in exam configurations (client configs still have allowPreferencesWindow=true as default setting).
  • Fixed: Cannot start SEB by opening .seb file on macOS <= 10.12.
  • Fixed false positive detection of not allowed process because of partial match of process executable name.
  • Now controlling resizing of Preferences panels: Don't allow to resize those without scroll view and allow to resize the ones with scroll view only to the maximum size of their content.
  • Now scrolling oversized Preferences panels to the top when displaying them the first time.
  • Fixed User Interface Preferences Panel didn't resize vertically.
  • Fixed missing error message when identity certificate to decrypt SEB config cannot be accessed.
  • Attempted to fix (not always reproducible) checking code signature of some visible apps delays or blocks starting SEB.
  • Added Discord to preset prohibited processes.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.2.1:
  • Prohibited Processes settings for blocking specific processes and applications from running together with SEB.
  • Preset prohibited processes covering communication, screen sharing and recording apps. Let us know if you would like to suggest applications and tools to be added to those preset prohibited processes (we need information about the software and its name and Bundle Identifier (if applicable).
  • Added settings to allow to reconfigure SEB, even it is already running in a secure session (a quit password is set in the currently active settings).
  • Implemented setting keys to control clearing cookies when starting/ending an exam session (examSessionClearCookiesOnStart / examSessionClearCookiesOnEnd). This can be used to keep users logged in from the previous session after an exam session was started (and SEB reconfigured with new settings).
  • Added setting to enable Web Inspector (web developer tools) in Preferences/Browser (same settings key allowDeveloperConsole as in SEB for Windows 3.0. If enabled and right click isn't disabled (see Preferences/Security/Hooked Keys/Enable Right Mouse), you can right click/ctrl-left click on a web page element and open Web Inspector with 'Inspect Element'.
  • Added Mac-specific settings for blocking screen shots and screen recording. The separate settings allow to run SEB correctly in parallel with some remote proctoring tools.
  • Added separate Mac setting for the Private Clipboard feature.
  • Added Mac-specific setting for blocking screen sharing over the network (VNC): key screenSharingMacEnforceBlocked (default: false, then the value of the existing key allowScreenSharing is used).
  • Added all SEB for iOS settings in Preferences window.
  • Fixed that a wrong Config Key was calculated because of specific new default settings added in a new SEB version. This was the cause why SEB 2.1.4 did not work correctly with the new SEB integration in Moodle 3.9.
  • Fixed: Overriding check for specific processes in lock screen didn't work.
  • Fixed: Client config encrypted with password wasn't compatible between Win vs. Mac+iOS.
  • Fixed: Loading config file with different SEB admin password in Preferences didn't work.
  • Fixed that an SEB config without proper MIME type wasn't recognized: Added "text/xml" as alternative MIME type for SEB config files when a seb(s) link is opened.
  • Removed ARDAgent from detecting Remote Management: ARDAgent is running always when Remote Management is enabled in System Preferences / Sharing, which made it necessary to always disable Remote Management. Now this is not necessary, as long as no VNC client tries to connect to the SEB client (in that case the according red lock screen is displayed and requires the quit/unlock password to be entered).
  • Removed setting for disabling Local Storage (in Browser pane). Local Storage is now always enabled.
  • Replaced key string mobileShowSettings with string showSettingsInApp in default settings.

Fixed SEB 2.2 issues in SEB 2.2.1:

  • Couldn't open Moodle 3.9 (Deeper Integration) quiz by starting SEB with indirect sebs:// link from another browser.
  • Browser Exam and Config Key were not displayed correctly when opening the Preferences/Exams pane directly after loading an exam configuration.
  • Starting SEB by loading configs from indirect sebs:// Links works now regardless of URL filter in client settings.
  • Embedded SSL debug certificate with wildcard domains didn't work.

IMPORTANT: SEB 2.2.1 for macOS uses a different policy to decide if it can be reconfigured when a seb(s) URL is opened and a .seb config file downloaded: When running in a secure session (a quit password is set in the currently active settings), SEB 2.2.1 cannot be reconfigured, even if it's using the persisted client settings. Earlier versions could always be reconfigured when using client settings. If you want to allow reconfiguring SEB by opening a seb(s) URL while running in a secure session, then you need to use the "Allow Reconfiguring" and "Reconfiguring Config URL" options in Preferences/Exam Session. For the same behavior as in previous versions, you can enable "Allow Reconfiguring" and set "Reconfiguring Config URL" to "*" (wildcard symbol, meaning any seb(s) URL or download URL of a .seb config file is allowed to reconfigure SEB) in your SEB client settings. This policy settings for reconfiguring are already used by SEB for iOS and will also be introduced in SEB 3.1 for Windows.

Other changes could also require you to change your SEB settings:

  • Preset prohibited processes are required to be quit before starting an exam and are automatically added to any config you open with SEB 2.2.1. This doesn't alter the Config Key hash. The Browser Exam Key hash value is changed, but that key you anyways have to determine by loading the according SEB config file in SEB 2.2.1 and copy-paste the key from the Preferences/Exam pane. You cannot remove those preset prohibited processes, but you can deactivate them individually using their "Active" parameter. See the Preferences/Applications/Prohibited Processes pane. You can change other properties of the prohibited process, although not all of these parameters are used by SEB for macOS, currently only "Active", "Executable", "Identifier", "OS", "Force quit" and "Description" are used. You can't change "Executable" or "Identifier", if you do so, a new prohibited process entry is created internally (and visible next time you open those settings). There are two kinds of processes: Applications with a Bundle Identifier, which follows the reverse domain notation (for example org.safeexambrowser.Safe-Exam-Browser). SEB uses the Identifier parameter to detect those Application processes. BSD processes don't have a Bundle Identifier, they are only detected using the Executable property (process name). If you want to add prohibited processes to your settings, you can use the Activity Monitor macOS app: Select a process, press the info button (or cmd-I) and press the "Sample" button. In the sample output, you can identify the process name (SEB property "Executable", which can differ from the localized application name displayed by macOS in the Finder, Dock and Activity Monitor process name list. If the sample shows an "Identifier" in reverse domain notation (and not the identical string as the "Process" entry), then this process is an application with a Bundle Identifier and you should enter this bundle ID as "Identifier" in SEB's settings if you create a prohibited process. If "Identifier" from the sample output isn't in reverse domain notation, don't enter anything in the "Identifier" field in SEB's prohibited process settings, only enter the process name in "Executable".
    Only enable the "Force quit" parameter for prohibited processes in SEB if you are sure that student's won't loose unsaved documents if the process is terminated without a warning when starting SEB. Usually "Force quit" should not be used with applications: When "Force quit" is disabled, SEB will send a regular quit command to the application. Most applications will then either auto-save unsaved changes in open documents or ask the user if the document should be saved before quitting.
    By default, unless the SEB setting "Attempt to quit prohibited applications" (Preferences/Applications) is disabled, SEB tries to quit all running prohibited applications in a "nice" way. This still allows them to save changes to open documents. If you disable this setting, then the user has to manually click the button "Quit All Applications" in the window with the list of running prohibited processes displayed when SEB is starting. If quitting applications "nicely" fails, SEB offers the option to force quit all still running prohibited applications with the button "Force Quit All Processes". BSD processes cannot be "nicely" quit, users either have to manually terminate or disable them or use the "Force Quit All Processes" button in the window with the list of running prohibited processes. Please note that macOS restarts some background (daemon) processes automatically if they are force terminated. Those processes might have to be uninstalled (or temporarily deactivated using the command line (Terminal), as explained in this external article).
  • New separate Mac setting for the Private Clipboard feature, Preferences/Security/"Enforce private clipboard on Mac" (settings key enablePrivateClipboardMacEnforce), by default enabled. If enabled, then the private clipboard is used, even if the old setting Preferences/Security/"Use private clipboard" is disabled. The reason for the separate Mac setting is, that enabling private clipboard in the Windows version sometimes causes web compatibility issues (which isn't the case in the Mac version). If you intentionally disabled "Use private clipboard" (key enablePrivateClipboard=false) for the Mac version, then you have to set enablePrivateClipboardMacEnforce=false in addition.
  • New separate SEB for macOS settings for allowing screen capture/recording, window capture and to use the legacy method for blocking screen shots. SEB 2.2.1 for macOS is no longer using the old setting "Enable screen capture" which corresponded with the setting "Enable Print Screen" in Windows. Instead, these new settings allow to control access to the screen while SEB is running in a gradual way. The new setting "Allow screen capture/recording" (key allowScreenCapture) controls a system process, which since macOS 10.14 Mojave is used for the macOS screen recording feature (cmd+shift+5) and for screen shots. The new setting "Allow window capture (screen shots)" (key allowWindowCapture) controls if other processes are able to read the contents of the windows displayed by SEB. Depending which system APIs are used to read window or screen contents, those settings have a different effect: If allowScreenCapture=true and allowWindowCapture=false, then macOS screen shots using cmd-shift-3 and -4 can still be taken, but don't show SEB's windows (only the desktop background). On screen recording videos taken with cmd-shift-5, SEB's windows will still be visible, unless allowScreenCapture is set to false. When the new setting "Block screen shots (Legacy)" (key blockScreenShotsLegacy) is enabled, then SEB uses the method to redirect and delete screen shots which had to be used with macOS 10.9 and older. Those separate settings may allow to use SEB with specific remote proctoring solutions which need access to the screen and SEB's window contents.
  • New SEB for macOS setting "Enforce blocking screen sharing on Mac" (key screenSharingMacEnforceBlocked, default value true/enabled), which overrides the original screen sharing setting "Allow (network) screen sharing" (key allowScreenSharing) on Mac clients. This allows for example SEB for Windows to be used in Windows remote sessions (RDP), while still blocking VNC-based macOS screen sharing and remote management on Mac SEB clients.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.1.4:
  • SEB 2.1.4 is fully compatible with macOS 10.15 Catalina.
  • The SEB application is now notarized and uses the Hardened Runtime security feature.
  • Set the default minimum required macOS version to 10.11 El Capitan. This means, if you want students to be able to use older macOS versions, you need to adjust that setting if you didn’t had it set in your config already (previous versions had the default setting of macOS 10.7 as the minimum version). SEB 2.1.4 still should run even on macOS 10.7, but we’re no longer testing it with such old versions. Many modern web applications won’t run correctly on old WebKit versions used in older macOS versions. Ideally don’t use macOS 10.10 or older. Consider recommending to or demanding from your students to use a macOS version which is still getting security updates from Apple. Until the release of 10.15 Catalina, this was macOS 10.12 Sierra, from now on the oldest version still getting updates will be 10.13 High Sierra.
  • SEB 2.1.4 uses the final implementation of the Config Key, to verify that an exam is using a correct, unmodified SEB configuration. The Config Key can be generated automatically by a compatible exam system together with the SEB config to be used for an exam. All SEB versions supporting the Config Key generate the same key, as long as the same SEB config file is used. Currently SEB for iOS supports the Config Key as well, a compatible Windows version will follow later this year.
  • Implemented key shortcuts for switching between open browser windows.
    Left Alt (Option) Key +Tab: Cycle forward through open browser windows
    Left Alt (Option) Key + Left Shift Key + Tab: Cycle backwards through open browser windows
    Right Alt (Option) Key (+ Right Shift) + Tab keeps the standard function (cycle through website elements).
  • Custom App Controls and Quick Actions in Touch Bar, also with enabled Control Strip, are now disabled, even if BetterTouchTool is used. Added alert displayed while quitting SEB, for the case when App Control mode for Touch Bar can't be restored automatically. This dialog offers to open System Preferences / Keyboards, so users can change the setting back manually.
  • Fixed that the Preferences / Exams tab in some cases displayed "Save settings to display its Browser Exam / Config Key" instead of the keys, even though settings were not modified by the user.
  • Fixed: Media player app (iTunes etc.) can block SEB, when set to full screen and started using the Play key. The previous implementation didn't work properly on Mojave and newer.
  • Selecting multiple files for upload is now possible, controlled by the HTML input element (multiple-attribute).
  • Fixed downloads not working on macOS 10.14 Mojave or newer.
  • Fixed downloading and opening of SEB config files defined inline on a webpage with "data:" didn't work.
  • Fixed issue with the default ~/Downloads directory when running on Mojave or newer. If you created a SEB config file with a previous version of SEB, you might have to again select the Downloads directory in Preferences / Down/Uploads in case an error message is displayed when trying to download files in SEB.
  • Implemented blocking macOS screen recording (cmd+shift+5) introduced in Mojave, controlled with setting Preferences / Security / Allow screen capture.
  • Fixed: JavaScript confirm dialog didn't return false when cancel (or any secondary) button was clicked.
  • Red lock screen for "SEB process was stopped" (SIGSTOP) is no longer displayed when Mac is set to sleep mode.
  • Improved SIGSTOP detection in case system time is changed.
  • Background of lock screen log view is again white also on Mojave.
  • Removed global hotkeys for F3+F6 shortcut to open Preferences window (F3+F6 shortcut now only works if SEB is the active application). You can still also use the macOS standard shortcut for opening Preferences, which is cmd + , (comma key).
  • Improved preventing a modal lock (SEB freezes) when a webpage tries to download a font (displaying a dialog hidden by SEB's kiosk mode). When SEB doesn't have the needed Accessibility permissions to close the dialog, it is now terminated after saving information on which webpage the font download was attempted (title and URL or placeholder). This is then displayed when SEB is started next time.
  • When checking server trust with embedded certificates, resources in subdomains of already trusted domains are now trusted as well, according to behavior in other standard browsers.
  • Fixed opening an seb(s) link which requires authentication subsequently from another browser, while SEB is running, can fail: When the temporary browser window for authentication was closed (windows close button), then SEB ignored further external calls (as from the other browser) to open an seb(s) URL.
  • Now importing identity certificate with exportable private key when opening it in the Preferences window.
  • Now displaying an error message when an identity couldn't be exported from the Keychain.
  • Fixed: Background of Dock buttons was highlighted when clicked and buttons were white instead of gray on Mojave or newer. SEB Dock button disappearing on macOS 10.10 - 10.13 instead of being highlighted when right/long clicked.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.1.3:
  • New "Config Key" feature allowing an exam system to verify that the correct settings are being used. The Config Key can be generated server-side and doesn't change if same settings are loaded in a new SEB version which adds new setting keys.
  • Added setting to disable Siri.
  • Added setting to disable dictation.
  • Now refusing to start an exam which hasn't been submitted properly before, displaying lock screen including log entries from the previously interrupted exam.
  • Preventing that SIGSTOP could be used to freeze SEB and to cheat undiscovered.
  • Added browser user agent suffix setting option.
  • Now blocking Touch Bar typing suggestions (predictive keyboard) during an exam.
  • The screen sharing detector now also works correctly when connecting to a Mac using Apple ID (Back to My Mac).
  • Added checkbox to lock screen to override security check and unlock SEB, even if screen sharing is still active. Displaying info about overriding security check in HUD (in red text color).
  • Fixed that SEB in some cases didn't switch off automatic spelling correction when running on macOS 10.12 and later.
  • Implemented functionality for separate Allow Reload / Show Reload Warning / Allow Navigating setting for exam and new browser windows: Hiding navigation and reload buttons in toolbar and enabling navigation with Cmd + cursor keys according to settings.
  • Added confirm quitting option for Quit Link.
  • Now respecting setting "enable right mouse button": Allows to use the right mouse button/context menu according to setting key enableRightMouse. This only has an effect in Javascript, browser plugins and video players etc. (not on regular website elements).
  • URL filter now treats query strings consistently between SEB macOS 2.1.3 and Windows 2.2.1.
  • Implemented new URL filter query string condition: If "?." is specified as query, then SEB enforces no query.
  • URL filter now ignores "about:" URLs. These can be blocked explicitly if desired.
  • Fixed URL filter didn't work correctly with Javascript open links by only closing the new window if the URL of the main frame wasn't allowed (applies only if content filter isn't active).
  • Changed "Restart Exam Button" to "Back to Start Button" and added disclaimer about not logging out users.
  • Now loading SEBClientSettings.seb also from the /Library/Preferences directory: This directory is valid for all users on a Mac and usually only writable with administrator rights. This improvement makes it easier to configure managed SEB clients which are used by multiple users.
  • Reconfiguration is now done seamlessly before initializing and opening the browser. Note: The SEB admin password of a new client config needs to match the one in the old client config (if there was one set), otherwise the reconfiguration fails silently. If you need to change the SEB admin password on managed clients, you first need to reset the existing SEB user defaults.
  • Added new setting to allow SEB installation in user's ~/Applications folder. By default, it's now only allowed to start SEB from the /Applications folder.
  • Refactored startup process to correctly initialize SEB if it is started directly (using client settings) or by opening a config file. Now client settings saved persistently on the Mac are not considered at all when starting SEB by opening a config file or config link.
  • Fixed that double clicking a .seb config file several times could lock SEB.
  • The About SEB splash screen now cannot hide alerts and lock SEB if those were displayed modally.
  • Fixed modal lock when webpage tries to download a font by sending an return key event tap, which closes the dialog (invoking the button "Skip" in the system alert which is displayed behind SEB's windows). This doesn't work on macOS 10.14 though, as a workaround make sure that websites don't download additional fonts or open the page first in Safari (or in SEB without active kiosk mode, using the setting Applications/Permitted Processes/Allow switching to third party applications) so the font gets downloaded before the exam.
  • In case SEB cannot terminate an explicitly prohibited process (trying to display an overlay/panel window), a lock screen is displayed requiring to enter the quit/unlock password.
  • Fixed names of running processes in log were truncated after 16 characters.
  • No longer changing screenshot location on OS X 10.10 and later, as SEB's windows are not captured on screenshots anyways.
  • Updated default Start URL to "https://safeexambrowser.org/start".
  • Fixed problems while opening new settings when alerts were open in SEB.
  • Now adding Safari/WebKit version strings "Version/11.1.1" and 605.1.15 to user agent string.
  • Added information on how to solve an issue with the Force Quit window alert: "If the window isn't open and this alert is displayed anyways, restart your Mac".
  • Fixed displaying correct time the SEB process was interrupted (in lock screen and HUD).
  • Now preventing editing of log messages in lock screen.
  • Fixed: Additional browser windows can be displayed behind the black screen background cover windows after closing Preferences Window (when not changing any settings).
  • Fixed changing settings when Exam Pane is displayed doesn't trigger "save changed settings" warning.
  • Fixed Preferences window not working correctly on OS X 10.8 (bad auto layout support!) by allowing to open Preferences starting macOS 10.9.
  • Fixed lock screen windows could be opened twice (for screen sharing and user switch) which would make it impossible to unlock again.
  • Improved logging when starting SEB: Now starting to log (with log level Debug and at standard log file path) regardless of current settings directly after SEB starts up, before local persistent settings are initialized.
  • Again fixed a bug when SEB could kill itself when a space switch occurred, this time correctly.
  • Fixed opening seb(s):// link wasn't working when temporary browser window (for authentication) was open and SEB was restarted after editing preferences.
  • Added one point to menu bar height to keep a black edge between menu bar and browser window.
  • Fixed a compatibility issue which caused SEB 2.1.2 to crash immediately when started on OS X 10.7.
  • Fixed reload (with confirm message) not working on macOS 10.7/10.8 (on non fullscreen browser windows).
  • Added Win Registry setting insideSebEnableNetworkConnectionSelector to Security pane and Settings.
  • Enabled all Function Keys in Hooked Keys (Win) default settings.

Changed in build 29E7:

  • Improved performance and stability for reading system defaults (preferences for Siri, dictation). The previous implementation in SEB 2.1.3 build 29E5 could crash SEB while system load was very high (for example when SEB is automatically started by the system after a reboot/hard reset).
  • Changed default for setting browserWindowShowURL to never (to not leak exam URLs in case the are supposed to be kept secret in some exam environments).

Known limitations. The following preferences options are not yet available in this version:

  • Applications pane: Monitor processes (new third party application handling and additional security feature) is not yet available. It's possible to add permitted and prohibited processes for SEB 2.x for Windows. SEB for macOS doesn't support directly starting and monitoring third party applications yet.
  • Network pane: It's not yet possible to set individual SEB proxy settings, you have to set system-wide proxy settings in macOS System Preferences. SEB for Windows 2.1.x or later supports individual proxy settings which you can configure here.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.1.2:
  • Fixes a bug when a browser window wasn’t scaled correctly to fit the screen (it was placed in the lower left screen corner, mainly off-screen) when only one screen is connected and the „useBuiltin“ setting is false.
  • Fixes a bug when the main browser window stayed open when starting SEB by opening a config file. The window couldn’t be manually closed and stayed in the foreground (as a „zombie“ window, caused by a timing problem when the window gets the close command while it’s still being opened).
  • To solve the latter problem and improve usability generally, when starting SEB by opening a .seb config file or a seb(s):// link, the start URL from persistent settings of the SEB client isn't opened first anymore, instead the new settings are directly applied. In case loading or decrypting these settings isn’t successful (load error, canceled by the user, wrong decryption credentials etc.), SEB quits instead of continuing with the persistent client settings.
  • Fixed visible screen area was being wrong calculated, not considering correctly if the SEB dock was visible on that screen. This also caused the temporary browser window for authentication not to be moved up when the user moved it underneath the SEB dock.
  • Fixed this calculation when no main browser window is open yet (when starting SEB by opening a seb(s):// link from a authenticated server and only the temporary browser window is opened).
  • Now opening the main browser window, the SEB dock and the temporary browser window when starting SEB by opening a seb(s):// link from a authenticated server always on the main screen as defined by settings (not macOS).
  • Fixed a bug when SEB could kill itself when a space switch occurred.

Known limitations. The following preferences options are not yet available in this version:

  • Applications pane: Monitor processes (new third party application handling and additional security feature) is not yet available. It's possible to add permitted and prohibited processes for SEB 2.x for Windows. SEB for macOS doesn't support directly starting and monitoring third party applications yet.
  • Network pane: It's not yet possible to set individual SEB proxy settings, you have to set system-wide proxy settings in macOS System Preferences. SEB for Windows 2.1.x supports individual proxy settings which you can configure here.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.1.1:
  • Fully compatible with macOS 10.12 Sierra
  • Implements support for embedded TLS/SSL & CA certificates and certificate pinning (for SEB running on macOS 10.9 or later) for enhanced security when connecting with exam servers.
  • SEB is now using a private clipboard, so utilities running in the background and Universal Clipboard (on macOS 10.12 Sierra) cannot be used to copy-paste contents into or out of exams (can be disabled if using third party applications in a securely managed user account).
  • WebAudio API is enabled now.
  • Added blocking panels and windows opened by third party tools running in the background.
  • Added detection for macOS ScreenSharing.
  • Added deactivating display mirroring and a new setting option for a maximum number of displays which the user is allowed to use. This can prevent wireless displays to be used to cheat or leak exam content.
  • Added full support for Basic/Digest and NTLM Authentication.
  • Loading seb(s):// linked settings from authenticated servers is possible now, even with indirect links (not containing the config file name with the .seb extension, like for example sebs://example.com/download.php?id=2352). Therefore a SEB exam config file can be stored for example into the same Moodle course as the quiz. The login session is remembered, so students don't have to login twice in SEB if you start SEB/an exam using a seb(s):// link to a config file on an authenticated server.
  • Added a new settings option for enforcing a minimal macOS version. This is helpful if your web application isn't compatible with an older WebKit version (as for example used in OS X 10.7) or if you want to make sure that embedded certificates and certificate pinning work on all exam clients, then you should enforce the minimum macOS version 10.9.
  • On a trackpad supporting Force Touch, the lookup feature (invoked by strongly pressing the trackpad while the cursor is over a word or text selection) is now also blocked when the settings option "Allow dictionary look up" is disabled.
  • Fixed an issue when a media player app like iTunes could take over the screen if started with the keyboard play key (after being maximized to full screen and quit before starting SEB).
  • Fixed a WebKit related bug which occurred in older WebKit versions (if running on an older system than OS X 10.11) and with malformatted DOM elements. For example the navigation buttons in a Moodle 1.8 quiz if running SEB 2.1 on OS X 10.10 or older didn't work properly.
  • Fixed issues in the URL filter: Host addresses with or without a trailing slash "/" are treated as the same address, creating a filter for a path with trailing wildcard "/*" now also matches the path without trailing slash.
  • Fixed various minor issues.

Known limitations. The following preferences options are not yet available in this version:

  • Applications pane: Monitor processes (new third party application handling and additional security feature) is not yet available. It's possible to add permitted and prohibited processes for SEB 2.x for Windows. SEB for macOS doesn't support directly starting and monitoring third party applications yet.
  • Network pane: It's not yet possible to set individual SEB proxy settings, you have to set system-wide proxy settings in macOS System Preferences. SEB for Windows 2.1.x supports individual proxy settings which you can configure here.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.1:
  • SEB 2.1 is fully compatible with OS X 10.11 El Capitan.
  • Added button in SEB task bar for reloading current web page and an optional warning message for reloading web pages.
  • Added button in SEB task bar for restarting the exam, which can be password protected. Exam supporters can use this button when problems with the exam occur, instead of having to quit and restart SEB.
  • Added display of current time in SEB task bar: This is for example helpful if you decide to ban personal watches in exams (because of smartwatches).
  • Now zooming the entire web page is also possible in addition to only changing text size. Zoom can be disable completely as well.
  • SEB 2.1 can be configured to always use the more secure internal PDF viewer instead of the Acrobat Reader plug-in.
  • Individual browser user agent strings can be used per exam, SEB also identifies its version now in the user agent.
  • Now it is possible to configure if you want examinees to be able to use the spell and grammar checker.
  • Added option to allow the macOS dictionary lookup feature (three finger tap on trackpad or ctrl-cmd-D), as default this is disabled now.
  • Blocking the Notification Center also on OS X 10.10 and higher.
  • SEB now detects attempts to switch the user and displays a lock screen afterwards which needs to be unlocked with the quit/restart password by exam supporters/supervisors.
  • Added a check if the Force Quit window is open when SEB is started, in that case an error message is displayed and user is asked to close the window or quit SEB. Note: The "About this Mac" window is also identified as the Force Quit window and therefore needs to be closed before running SEB.
  • When restarting, holding down command key now doesn't quit SEB but asks to release the key.
  • Improved getting the filename when downloading a file using an anchor with the "download" attribute.
  • If "allow browsing back/forward" in browser settings is selected, back/forward buttons are displayed in a browser window toolbar and they now get enabled conditionally depending on browsing history. Fixed that those buttons sometimes didn't work.
  • Now hiding back/forward, zoom text and the new zoom page button in browser window toolbar, if these features are disabled in settings.
  • Added a sebs:// protocol in addition to seb://. SEB uses https for opening a sebs:// link (for a seb:// link SEB first tries to use http and if that fails then https is used).
  • The preferences window is now only available on OS X 10.8 and higher (no longer possible on 10.7 because of lacking support for Base Internationalization). Added alert explaining that the preferences window cannot be used when running SEB on OS X 10.7.
  • SEB preferences are now showing an alert to notify for what the saved .seb file can be used also after "Save As..." of local client settings.
  • Added a warning alert when activating "Allow switching to third party applications" in the Applications prefs pane. This feature is only supposed to be used in a secured, managed user account, as all applications can be accessed.
  • SEB 2.1 is now supporting WebSQL databases.
  • Fixed browser page history wasn't cleared when restarting SEB / restarting the exam.
  • Fixed a bug when downloading a data: blob having a download attribute, the download confirmation dialog was displayed twice.
  • Fixed 'download' attribute in an anchor (A tag) didn't work with resources which the browser can display and the protocol wasn't data:
  • Fixed importing an embedded identity in a .seb file into the keychain.
  • Fixed some browser alerts were displaying alert messages inside the button.
  • Fixed a rare crash when using the URL filter.
  • Fixed a runtime exception which was rarely caused by displaying the Applications pane permitted/prohibited processes tabs (caused by table views UI autosave).
  • Fixed screen shots didn't show SEB windows when "Enable screen capture" was selected and running on OS X 10.10.x and 10.11 (as Apple suddenly fixed a very old bug and macOS is now finally respecting the property NSWindowSharingTypeNone).
  • Fixed a security issue where a .seb file for configuring client encrypted with an arbitrary password could reconfigure a client without having to enter the admin pw saved currently in SEB on that client. Now this is only possible after entering the current admin pw or by encrypting the new settings for configuring the client with that current admin pw.
  • Added clearing Pasteboard when restarting SEB.
  • Fixed several English and German user interface tooltips in the preferences window. Changed title of Appearance pane to User Interface/Benutzeroberfläche.
  • Fixed bug changed passwords in the General prefs pane were not saved when saving settings (commands Save or Save As).
  • Added comma separated proxy exception list in Network -> Proxies prefs pane.

Known limitations. The following preferences options are not yet available in this version:

  • Applications pane: Monitor processes (new third party application handling and additional security feature) is not yet available. It's possible to add permitted and prohibited processes for SEB 2.x for Windows. SEB for macOS doesn't support directly starting and monitoring third party applications yet.
  • Network pane/Proxies: It's not yet possible to set individual SEB proxy settings, you have to set system-wide proxy settings in macOS System Preferences. SEB for Windows 2.1 supports individual proxy settings which you can configure here.
  • Network pane/Certificates: SEB 2.1 for macOS doesn't support reading embedded TLS/SSL certificates yet. In addition SEB for Windows cannot read TLS/SSL certificates embedded in the Mac version.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.0:
  • Adapted format of the encrypted SEB configuration files to be compatible with the SEB 2.0.2 version for Windows. You can use the same .seb files for starting exams on SEB 2.0.x Windows clients and SEB 2.0 macOS clients. Note: Local client settings in the Preferences folder of the system (created with SEB version 2.0pre3 or earlier) are cleared when this new SEB version is started first time, you will have to configure SEB freshly. You can although save settings with SEB 2.0pre3 (before running SEB 2.0 first time) and reconfigure the SEB 2.0 client with these. SEB config files saved with SEB 2.0pre1 or 2.0pre2 cannot be read with this version.
  • Comfortable built-in editor for the platform-independent SEB settings files, which can also set all additional individual settings for the Windows version.
  • While the Preferences window is displayed, switching to other running (hidden) applications is possible and the screen background isn't blacked out. Also the menu bar is displayed, so that SEB menu commands can be used. There is a Settings menu available, which contains the commands also available in the Config File preferences pane and the pulldown menu in the Preferences window title bar (clicking on triangle symbol).
  • Tool tips now always work in the Preferences window. Use these tool tips, as they may render reading the SEB manual obsolete!
  • Help button/menu command now shows help (SEB manual) in a new browser window.
  • SEB 2.0 is again completely localized to German.
  • SEB 2.0 also blocks the screenshot feature of macOS.
  • SEB 2.0 features an optional dock/task bar displaying an icon for the SEB browser with controls for its open browser windows and a quit button. Clicking the SEB icon in the dock and holding the left mouse button down or a secondary (right mouse button) click displays a popup menu with all open browser windows, the main browser window is at the bottom. With this menu you can switch between open browser windows.
  • The SEB browser main window can be displayed full screen, additional browser windows float over the full screen main window. An indicator shows network activity.
  • While starting, SEB now checks if there is a configuration file named 'SebClientSettings.seb' in in the Preferences folder (~/Library/Preferences/) and reconfigures itself silently (no user feedback) to the settings in that file, then the file is deleted. This works only if the administrator password in this file matches the one set in the local settings of the SEB client. The file can either be unencrypted or encrypted with a password that matches the administrator password set in the local settings of the SEB client (otherwise the password to decrypt the settings file will be prompted). This new feature can be used to configure deployed SEB clients as in this version it isn't anymore possible to deploy the org.safeexambrowser.Safe-Exam-Browser.plist file from the Preferences folder to other machines (due to stronger, individual encryption per client).
  • Added optional check for SEB not installed in Applications folder. As default the user will be notified that SEB must be moved to an Applications (/Applications or ~/Applications) folder and that only one copy of SEB should be installed on the system, SEB quits after this alert. Reason: Unexperienced users sometimes tried to run SEB from the mounted disk image and couldn't find SEB later, also registering the .seb filetype and the seb:// protocol requires SEB to be 'installed' on the system, best in an Applications folder. If several SEB versions are installed, a .seb configuration file might be opened with the wrong SEB version.
  • SEB now optionally checks for the command key being held down while SEB is starting up. This prevents using the application switcher to mess with SEB's kiosk mode. As default this check is enabled. Please note that in case the cmd key is held down why SEB starts up or reconfigures itself after loading a .seb config file, an alert is displayed and SEB quits after that, the user needs to restart SEB manually.
  • Added an option to save an application log to a file (see Security preferences pane). The log level indicates which information gets saved. The level Error shows just error messages, Warning shows errors and warnings, Verbose shows all levels. Default is Warning (error and warning messages). Info contains addresses of opened web pages. Debug and Verbose is meant for debugging (send such a log file to the SEB developers to find out details about a problem). Standard path for log is '~/Library/Logs/Safe Exam Browser/'.
  • New URL filter including teach mode to control access of the SEB browser to web links and resources. Saved settings files contain URL filter rules which also work from SEB 2.0.2 for Windows. Please note that it's currently not possible to edit the extended filter rules generated in SEB for macOS in the SEB Windows Config Tool, full support for the URL filter will be included in a later version.
  • Fixed embedded certificates were not imported when using private user defaults (loading .seb settings for starting an exam). You can now embed both cryptographic identities (X.509 certificates with RSA public key and associated private key) and SSL/TLS server certificates into .seb config files which will be imported into the keychain of the SEB client which opens that config file.
  • Fixed reading identities or certificates from keychain when switching to Network preference pane crashes on some certificates.
  • The Browser Exam Key is now automatically re-calculated and displayed in the Exam preferences pane. This happens whenever a setting changes if editing local client settings and after saving a config file if editing settings for starting an exam.
  • Added support for the W3C saveAs() File API interface using protocol "data:", implemented adding correct file extension to a file downloaded with this (filename will be "Unknown" due to lacking support for the File API in WebKit).
  • Added support for the W3C download attribute to the anchor tag, including proper file name, example: <a download="logo.png" href="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KG...">Download</a>.
  • Added option for persisting browser Local Storage between application runs (when quitting and restarting), fixed WebKit bug which didn't persist Local Storage at all.
  • Added "Safari/533.16" to the SEB browser user agent string because some sites and web applications (like VMware Horizon HTM View) didn't work properly.
  • Now applications which are displayed full screen on other screens while SEB is started (security issue on macOS >= 10.9) are hidden when SEB is starting up.
  • Fixed retry reloading start URL (and any other) web page didn't work.
  • Now bringing SEB and the current browser window to foreground before displaying any web browser related alert.
  • Fixed enter password dialog was not correctly resizing (shrinking) when it was re-displayed and the former height was larger.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.0pre3:
  • Adapted format of the encrypted SEB configuration files to be compatible with the SEB 2.0RC version for Windows. You can now use the same .seb files for starting exams on SEB 2.0RC Windows clients and SEB 2.0pre3 macOS clients. Note: SEB settings files written with SEB 2.0pre1 or 2.0pre2 cannot be read with this version.
  • Fixed a bug in calculating the Browser Exam Key when loading a .seb file for starting an exam.
  • Fixed a bug which caused the SEB browser window to be invisible when starting the new SEB version and old, incompatible settings were read from the Preferences folder of the system. Note: These outdated local client settings are cleared when this new SEB version is started first, you will have to configure SEB freshly.

Known issues. The following features are not yet functional/disabled and will be activated only after extensive testing in upcoming releases:

  • Config Files preferences pane: File handling buttons like open, save and revert are disabled.
  • Appearance pane: Full screen mode is not yet implemented. SEB dock/task bar when using third party applications is not yet implemented and will follow as part of some usability improvements.
  • Browser pane: Use SEB without browser window: Will be enabled together with the new third party application handling.
  • Applications pane: Monitor processes (new third party application handling and additional security feature) is not yet enabled. For demonstration purposes it's possible to manually add permitted and prohibited processes.
  • Network pane: URL filter, certificates and proxies settings not yet functional.
  • Security pane: SEB Service, Allow user switching and logging not yet functional.
  • OS X 10.9 Mavericks: When SEB is run in a multi display environment, then an application being in full screen mode on one screen won't be hidden by SEB. Workaround: Don't use SEB 2.0pre3 with a multi display setting on OS X 10.9 or disable the setting "Displays have separate Spaces" in System Preferences -> Mission Control.

This preview does not contain all features of the final 2.0 release yet. Please test it and provide us with feedback. This version runs on OS X 10.7, 10.8 and 10.9.

Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.0pre2:
  • The Browser Exam Key allows an exam module to authenticate the connecting SEB version and its settings. For the learning management system Moodle a beta version of a plug-in offering this functionality has been released.
  • New options in the user interface: Size and positioning of browser windows (main window with the quiz and additional browser windows) can be preset. A new indicator shows network activity.
  • SEB can optionally display the standard macOS menu bar and a tool bar in browser windows, functions like "About SEB", quit, open preferences, reload page, zoom text and browsing back/forward are therefore easier accessible (if desired). See also the keyboard shortcuts for these features displayed in menus.
  • Changed default settings (when SEB is freshly downloaded) to show menu bar. Therefore preferences are easily accessible when first time using SEB. Removed alert informing new users how to enter preferences.
  • Improved error handling when loading settings which are manipulated, corrupted or created by an older, incompatible version of SEB.
  • .seb config files now cannot be opened while SEB is in "exam mode", means another .seb file for starting an exam was opened before. Alert tells users to first finish exam and exit SEB before starting another exam (or reconfiguring local settings).
  • Implemented new preferences panes which include all new configuration options for the 2.0 final release. Extended .seb settings format for these new features. Improved handling of .seb files for compatibility with .seb files created with the upcoming Windows version of SEB 2.0.
  • Fixed bug when About modal window sometimes was staying in front of alerts or preferences window when starting SEB.
  • Added option to run SEB inside virtual machine (switch off the VM detector).

Known issues. The following features are not yet functional/disabled and will be activated only after extensive testing in upcoming releases:

  • Config Files preferences pane: File handling buttons like open, save and revert are disabled and not yet final because the settings file handling is currently being migrated to the OS X 10.7+ auto saving document architecture.
  • Appearance pane: Full screen mode is not yet implemented. SEB dock/task bar when using third party applications is not yet implemented and will follow as part of some usability improvements.
  • Browser pane: Use SEB without browser window: Will be enabled together with the new third party application handling.
  • Applications pane: Monitor processes (new third party application handling and additional security feature) is not yet enabled. For demonstration purposes it's possible to manually add permitted and prohibited processes.
  • Network pane: URL filter, certificates and proxies settings not yet functional.
  • Security pane: SEB Service, Allow user switching and logging not yet functional.

This preview does not contain all features of the final 2.0 release yet. Please test it and provide us with feedback. This version runs on OS X 10.7 and 10.8 only.

Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 2.0pre1:
  • Adds support for encrypted .seb setting files which allow to individually configure SEB per exam.
  • New feature to quit SEB after the exam is submitted (without having to enter a quit password) by specifying a quit link and placing this on the summary page displayed by your LMS after submitting the exam.
  • Signed with an Apple Developer ID for compliance with the Gatekeeper feature of OS X 10.8.
  • Removed writing settings to App Bundle feature which is replaced by the SEB settings (.seb files) feature.

This preview does not contain all features of the final 2.0 release yet. Please test it and provide us with feedback. This version runs on OS X 10.7 and 10.8 only.

Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.5.2:
  • Fixed link button for pasting saved clipboard string in general preferences pane sometimes not active.
  • Changed placeholder string for start URL field.
  • Mac App Store version: Removed writing settings to App Bundle feature due to restrictions from Apple and because it doesn't make much sense for the software deployment scenario of the App Store.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.5.1:
  • Completed french translation of new GUI elements.
  • Fixed bug preferences window not set to modal.
  • Fixed graphical flaw in app icon.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.5:
  • SEB can now open webpages in additional browser windows.

  • New browser preferences pane where separate policies can be set for opening hyperlinks requesting to be opened in a new browser window and links in JavaScript/plug-ins: Block those links generally, open in same window or open in new window.

  • In addition SEB can optionally ignore links requesting to open in a new window which direct to a different host than the one of the current page.

  • Improved integrity of the SEB environment by elevating all windows (including the background covering windows) on a higher windows level and improving suppression of other applications opening alert windows, requesting to become active and switch to foreground.

  • New option to enable or disable browsing back/forward (with cmd + cursor right/left keys). This can prevent users to browse back out of an exam to an unprotected start page.

  • New options to enable/disable plug-ins, Java, JavaScript and pop-up windows.

  • The clipboard is now cleared when SEB starts and before it quits. But the content of the clipboard (if it's a text string) is saved before SEB clears it, and by pressing a new link button in general preferences pane you can paste that saved string to the Start URL field.

  • Added elaborate suppression for links from Flash video player when it is in full screen mode (context menu link "About Flash player" and other links to external, unprotected webpages).

  • Added option to prevent full screen invoked by Flash (usually used in Flash video players) when third party applications are allowed. When switching to third party applications is disabled, Flash fullscreen mode is deactivated generally now for security reasons.

  • Added option to advanced preferences pane to download a PDF file and open it in a third party application instead of viewing it inline.

  • Added an option to choose the name and path of a file to be uploaded automatically: If users download a file, edit it in a third party application and save it with the same name at the same path, pressing the "chose file" button in the browser window doesn't present a file requester, instead the file is automatically chosen.

  • Now application name ("Safe Exam Browser" or "SEB", according to available space in window bar), version number and title of web page are displayed in each browser window.

  • Fixed bug when running on OS X 10.7 Lion for "open files after downloading".

  • Fixed Lion Problem with terminated applications (windows still visible) and problem with notification windows (like iCal alerts) being visible in front of SEB windows by using different window level for all SEB windows (but only if third party applications are not allowed).

  • Reload start URL/restart SEB now only after closing preferences and if start URL or setting for allow "switching to third party apps" changed.

  • Fixed saving preferences bug, works now regardless which pane first opens.

  • Fixed switching on presentation options (kiosk mode) again when user tried to put Flash to fullscreen: Browser window becomes fullscreen again.

  • Fixed wrong path preselected in file requester when choosing upload directory in Lion. Fixed some UI strings.

  • Removed embedded WebKit framework. Experiences didn't show any real advantage of using a private WebKit instead of the system's in practice, besides that recent WebKit builds were not working on Mac OS X 10.6.8 anymore.

Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.4.1:
  • Fixed bug when running on OS X 10.7.2 Lion browser window didn't come in front.
  • Fixed bug crashing when starting third party application by downloading document.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.4:
  • It is now possible to generate a pre-configured copy of SEB by writing the settings into the application bundle. Then this copy of SEB can be copied to all exam computers without having to distribute a separate preferences file.
  • Fixed bug saving changed passwords when switching panes in preferences.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.3.1:
  • Completed French translation of new GUI elements.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.3:
  • VM Detector refuses to start up SEB in a virtual environment.
  • Improved compatibility with OS X 10.7 Lion.
  • Updated embedded WebKit framework.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.2.1:
  • Fixed a bug of SEB 1.2 crashing when there was no preferences file saved yet.
  • Completed French translation of new GUI elements.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.2:
  • In advanced preferences it can now be chosen if SEB should allow down- and uploading files and if downloaded files should be opened automatically. This is useful when running additional applications during an exam in an account managed by macOS parental controls.
  • SEB can be quit now also with the close button of the browser window (if quitting is allowed in preferences, quitting needs to be confirmed in the same way as before).
  • A Retry button was added to the error dialog which displays network and server errors.
  • Changed passwords are saved before the help web page gets displayed by clicking the help button in preferences window.
  • Fixed a bug of version 1.1 when password preferences were not correctly saved or loaded in rare cases.
  • Updated embedded WebKit framework.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.1:
  • New preferences window with panes offers additional settings.
  • SEB MacOSX now allows to run additional applications during an exam in an account managed by macOS parental controls.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.0.2:
  • Added French localization (thanks to Nicolas Dunand).
  • Updated embedded WebKit framework.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.0.1:
  • Added German localization.
  • Copyright and version displayed in about box are now read from the corresponding fields in the applications' info.plist file.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version 1.0:
  • Improved security of SEB kiosk mode by preventing other applications to unhide, to steal user focus and to change presentation options.
  • SEB is now macOS code signed, so changes of the binary are prevented and the identity of its publisher can be verified.
  • Hyperlinks embedded in Javascript, in Flash and other plugins are now ignored when they link to another host than the one of the current page.
  • Context menu (activated by right mouse click) is now also disabled in plugin web content.
  • Switching to fullscreen video in plugins doesn't disengage the kiosk mode anymore.
  • Display and system idle sleep is now switched off while SEB is running.
  • Normal shutdown and restart invoked by keyboard or other applications is canceled.
  • Sleep mode invoked by keyboard is delayed (by 30 seconds, that's the maximum the system allows in forced sleep situations) to hinder possible tricking with fast user switching.
  • When first starting SEB, a notice is shown about with which keys to quit SEB and how to access its preferences. When SEB is running in 32-bit mode, there is also a note about the restriction mentioned below.
  • SEB now also runs on 32-bit-only Mac's (although for security reasons web plugins are disabled on this architecture).
  • Network and server errors are now displayed.
  • Added reload button (cmd + R).
  • Browser cache is now cleared when exiting SEB.
  • Updated to latest WebKit framework build.
  • Fixed a bug of RC1.0 where other applications could become active.
Release notes for Safe Exam Browser version RC1.0:
  • Administrator and quit passwords are no longer saved in plaintext but as a SHA256 hash, input and checking of passwords in preferences and sheets was changed accordingly.
  • Added a "confirm quit password" field in preferences. Fixed a bug occurring rarely when comparing password and confirm password fields.
  • Due to changing the executable name from "SEB" to "Safe Exam Browser", the file name of the preferences file in the user's Library/Preferences/ directory changed to "org.safeexambrowser.Safe-Exam-Browser.plist". If you have been using SEB MacOSX Beta 1, you will have to enter your settings in preferences over again. It's recommended to delete the old preferences file "org.safeexambrowser.SEB.plist", because it contains the old passwords in plaintext.
  • When SEB quits, applications which were visible before starting it are unhidden now.
  • Added a "About" panel with information about SEB and its release version. The panel is displayed briefly while starting SEB and by clicking the "About" button in preferences.
  • Added a help button ("?") in preferences, which displays this online manual in the SEB browser window. Same time the preferences window is set to non-modal, so the browser window gets accessible.
  • Reordered the buttons in preferences and confirm quit dialog according to Apple Human Interface Guidelines.
  • Improved code structure in encapsulation and modularity, preparing open source code release including developer documentation. Improved "Cocoa Bindings" implementation in preferences.

Please report bugs and feature requests.

Please always mention, which SEB version and which operating system you are using (OS X 10.11/10.10/10.9/10.8/10.7/10.6) and possibly other details about your system!

  • SEB doesn't prevent remote connections to the computer. You should switch off all relevant Apple and third-party remote access/control services when using SEB for exams or protect everything with proper passwords and don't give users administrator rights on the machine. You could also use an external firewall with restrictive settings.
  • SEB doesn't restrict other applications from playing audio. So you probably should switch off all VOIP and audio messenger systems like iChat and Skype while using SEB for example in an exam where audio is played in the quiz and students are allowed to use headphones.
  • In case your exam uses the https protocol or Java-Applets which connect to secure Servers, you should make sure their certificates are trusted on the client computers you're using. If that's not yet the case, you can either add the certificates to the macOS keychain manually or use the check mark for Always trust ... (displayed after pressing the Show Certificate button) when the accept certificate dialog is displayed.

These limitations will be addressed in future versions of SEB for macOS.