Check browser privacy settings before a remote exam

Before a remote exam, you may want to know whether your VPN is working and what access the browser has. At the same time, the exam may require camera, microphone, or screen-sharing permissions. Changing settings at the last minute can leave you unable to start.

Test your VPN before opening the exam session, then check the browser permissions the exam needs. The VPN Leak Test checks whether your real IP address is exposed through IPv6 or WebRTC while a VPN is on.

Check browser privacy before the exam

1. Read the exam provider's rules about VPNs and supported browsers first. If the rules say not to use a VPN, do not run the exam with one enabled. If you need a work or school VPN, ask the exam administrator whether it is allowed.
2. With the VPN connected, open the VPN Leak Test in the browser and on the network you plan to use. The test checks for IP exposure through IPv6 or WebRTC. Do not open the live exam to run this check.
3. Review browser information and permission details with Browser Info. Then open the browser's site permissions for the exam website and check whether camera, microphone, and screen sharing are set as the exam instructions require.
4. If you changed a VPN or permission setting, repeat the relevant check in the same browser profile. Make sure the exam website still loads and that any required camera or microphone preview works before exam time.

Use the exact browser profile you intend to use for the exam. A VPN extension, private window, or second browser may behave differently from your normal setup. Follow the exam provider's instructions rather than trying to hide or alter activity the exam is meant to monitor.

What the result means

The test does not report an IP leak

The test did not detect your real IP address through the IPv6 or WebRTC checks it performs while the VPN is active. This is a useful check of those paths, not a guarantee that every website or exam system sees only what you expect. Follow the exam provider's rules and check the exam site's required permissions separately.

The test reports a possible leak

Your browser may be exposing an address outside the VPN connection through IPv6 or WebRTC. This can happen if the VPN does not cover that traffic, if split tunneling routes some browser traffic outside the tunnel, or if the VPN connection is not active in the browser you tested. Do not assume the exam has already started or that the test result identifies a specific app setting. Check your VPN provider's supported settings and test again.

The test cannot complete or shows no useful result

A browser privacy setting, network restriction, VPN rule, or temporary connection problem can prevent a check from completing. A blocked check is not proof that your IP is exposed, and it is not proof that your connection is private. Try a standard browser window and a stable network, then contact your exam administrator if the required setup remains unclear.

The exam website cannot use the camera or microphone

This is a permissions or device-selection issue, not a VPN leak result. Check that the exam site has permission in the browser, that the browser has permission in the operating system, and that the correct camera or microphone is selected. For more detail on what an online assessment may see, read What can an online assessment see about your device?

How to fix a privacy or permission problem

1. Confirm whether a VPN is allowed. If the exam instructions prohibit VPNs, disconnect before starting the exam. If a VPN is required by your school or employer, ask the exam administrator how to configure it. Do not disable system networking features to try to hide an address.
2. Check that the VPN is connected in the browser you tested. Reopen the VPN app or its browser extension and verify its connection state. If the test still reports an exposure, check the provider's documentation for IPv6 protection and split-tunneling settings, then run the test again.
3. Allow only the permissions the exam requires. In the browser, open the site controls beside the address bar and review the permissions for the exact exam website. If the exam requires camera or microphone access, set those permissions as directed. Avoid granting access to unrelated sites.
4. Check operating-system access. On Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Camera and Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone. Check that access is enabled for the browser or desktop apps. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera and System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone, then allow the browser if the exam requires it.
5. Check phone permissions if the exam supports a phone. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings › Privacy & Security and review Camera and Microphone. On Android, open Settings › Privacy and review camera and microphone access. Menu names vary by device. Use a phone for the exam only if the provider says it is supported.
6. Close apps that may be using the camera or microphone. Quit other video-call or recording apps, reconnect the devices if needed, and reopen the exam browser. Then check the required preview or system test before the scheduled session.

What this check cannot tell you

A VPN leak test checks a narrow question: whether your real IP appears through IPv6 or WebRTC while the VPN is on. It does not inspect every browser request, assess the exam provider's privacy practices, or prove that your device is anonymous. Browser permissions also do not control what the exam service can see after you grant access for the test.

Remote exams may require you to show your face, speak, or share a screen. Those are separate from a VPN check. Review the provider's instructions before exam day, use a supported browser, and grant only the access required for the session.