How Can Cryptography Secure Online Assessments Against Academic Dishonesty?

ABSTRACT Popular learning platforms like Canvas LMS (Learning Management System), Moodle, and Google Forms have become widespread among university students. This research focuses on these platforms because of their significant role in modern online education. However, there are concerns about data integrity, especially regarding online assessments. During and after the COVID‐19 pandemic, there was a notable increase in online cheating incidents, including unauthorized access, content sharing, plagiarism, and the use of external resources during exams. These issues highlight the vulnerabilities of these educational platforms. This study aims to identify the gaps that facilitate online cheating in Canvas LMS, Moodle, and Google Forms. After pinpointing these gaps, it proposes solutions for each issue and integrates them into a prototype. The prototype uses cryptographic protocols for each stage of the examination, employing encryption and digital signatures to ensure the integrity of exam data. Additionally, it features Two‐Factor Authentication (2FA), a Safe Exam Browser (SEB), and restrictions on copy‐pasting to help reduce academic dishonesty among students. The developed prototype is designed to secure online assessments and maintain the integrity of exam data while protecting student privacy.