Hi guys, i have a situation where the users should use computers in PC Lab, but they shouldn't use any program other than firefox to attempt a quiz.

can i block all things including access to removable devices, and only use Firefox ?

note: the PCs is part of domain with win7 and windows server 2008.

i need your confirmations only, and then i will google it. thank you all.
amkahal wrote can i block all things including access to removable devices, and only use Firefox ?
As far as I know, yes, but I'm not 100% sure about blocking everything except Firefox.

Some browsers can be run in "kiosk mode", where the browser will be full-screen and the user is not given any possibility to exit it or launch something else on top. Internet Explorer has that. Firefox has some extensions for that but they might not work too well or might not be up-to-date, so maybe windows policy is still your best option, or maybe a combination of both.

I'm don't have too much experience in these things so hopefully someone else can give you a more definitive answer, but my advice would be don't wait for that and start your research now.
I appreciate it Rolf, Thank you.
amkahal wroteI appreciate it Rolf, Thank you.
You're welcome
yes you can block everything !
Since this question is already answered, i'm gonna tell you how "i think" students can still cheat :)

At usek, they have all kind of stuff in their labs, so i was taking some course about some stuff, and they used citrix I had an account on their servers, only some software were installed, i was only allowed to use IE which makes me crazy! i hate it, i wanted to install chrome, didn't have the privileges, But that wasn't a problem at! thanks to Portable apps! i downloaded chrome portable and many other software, it felt like home sweet home!

Portable apps aren't installed, think about it like swf files or jpegs, there's no way for the pc to stop you from using them.

You have 2 solutions to stop users from doing what i did:

1- Configure your firewall to stop your users from accessing popular websites where they can get their hands on portable apps, such as filehippo, cnet portableapps.com...

2-which is a simpler solution, disable firefox download manager, this can be bypassed but i don't think anyone would do that.
if the domain privileges and security are set properly even portable applications cannot run without administrator right
Fischer wroteSince this question is already answered, i'm gonna tell you how "i think" students can still cheat :)

At usek, they have all kind of stuff in their labs, so i was taking some course about some stuff, and they used citrix I had an account on their servers, only some software were installed, i was only allowed to use IE which makes me crazy! i hate it, i wanted to install chrome, didn't have the privileges, But that wasn't a problem at! thanks to Portable apps! i downloaded chrome portable and many other software, it felt like home sweet home!

Portable apps aren't installed, think about it like swf files or jpegs, there's no way for the pc to stop you from using them.

You have 2 solutions to stop users from doing what i did:

1- Configure your firewall to stop your users from accessing popular websites where they can get their hands on portable apps, such as filehippo, cnet portableapps.com...

2-which is a simpler solution, disable firefox download manager, this can be bypassed but i don't think anyone would do that.
this problem is solved by disconnecting the network from the internet, but i want to force the students to focus on the quiz, so i should prevent them from accessing anything but IE or Firefox.
i thought they were allowed to use the internet since they are allowed to use firefox, didn't know that you'll let them work on localhost... But if you're students were like me :) disconnecting from the internet won't solve the problem as i keep the apps that i use on a usb, plug it in any pc and start using it without needing the net, i also use cameyo which allow me to make any app that i want portable. i keep that on my usb just in case (someone like you - adele :) tried to stop me by disconnecting from the internet.

The internet sucks at usek unless you are @e-zone or you're lucky :) So i had to do what i do, for example our Dr. insist that we use VS 6.0, i hate it, i rather use codeblocks, no internet to download codeblocks, i keep everything on my usb. But i don't think your students will do what i did (I am the special 2 - the special 1 is mourinho :P)