International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 9, September 2013) 65 Enhancing Security in a Distributed Examination Using Biometrics and Distributed Firewall System Moses O. Onyesolu 1 , Virginia E. Ejiofor 2 , McDonald N. Onyeizu 3 , Dan Ugoh 4 1,2,4 Department of Computer Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. 3 MedSoft Technologies Ltd., No. 43, Okigwe Road, Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. Abstract—Online examination is a great opportunity for modern life and has seen exponential growth over the past decade. However, the tools used to present and administer this need to be coupled with efficient and reliable security mechanisms to ensure the medium can be established as a dependable one. Identification, authentication and monitoring of e-exam takers at a distance are of prime importance so that exams are administered by fair means. We proposed a biometric system for identification and distributed firewall techniques to monitor candidates and control network packets of all machines incorporating the traditional username and password for authentication. Keywords—Biometric system, distributed firewall, password, fingerprint, e-examination, e-learning. I. INTRODUCTION Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has changed our lives and provided us with a new dimension of thinking and doing things. ICT has had effects in all aspects of human endeavor. The World Wide Web an aspect of ICT is one of the inventions of computer technology which has wide spread in all aspect of life. A new concept which has emerged from World Wide Web is education on the web otherwise known as electronic learning or e-learning [1]. Since the inception of e-learning, there has been a security breach as it poses various threats especially when exams are held electronically (online). Security is one of the challenges of both traditional and online-based examination system. It imposes fear on institutions and test administrators. Institutions and test administrators are wary of administering examinations online. One way to mitigate security breach during online examination is to identify, authenticate and monitor candidates during online examination. This is to ascertain who is exactly ‗pushing the buttons‘ and to ensure that candidates do not receive outside assistance to improve their exam score [2]. II. SECURITY IN ONLINE EXAMINATION One of the main challenges facing the security of e- exams and the e-learning environment is to authenticate students so that no unauthorized individuals are permitted to upload submissions or access information, respectively [3]. Some other problems faced during e-exams are double submissions from the same students [4], and e-exams not being held in supervised locations, which therefore enables the individual to access unauthorized areas, etc [5], [6]. A study by [8] concludes that 73.6% of the students that were selected for the sample have the point of view that it is easier to cheat in an online environment rather than in a conventional one. According to the Center for Academic Integrity [9] cheating on exams has been reported at an alarming range of 74%. Reference [10] reported that 70% of students in their study confessed to cheating on multiple exams. A study by [11] compared faculty members‘ perceptions on various students‘ unethical conducts seriousness. They concluded that students‘ unethical conduct related to exam taking perceived by faculty to be one of the most serious unethical behaviors. Similarly, Dick et al. [12] also noted that 24% their study participants believed that ―advances on technology have lead to increased cheating‖. The perceived seriousness of cheating on exams has led numerous academic institutions to reduce their e-learning course offering and in other instances, cease e-learning altogether. In fact, [13] admitted that the inadequate technology has led some academic institutions to cease offering e-learning courses due to concerns over the quality of students‘ assessment and standards. Ramim and Levy [14] discussed a case study of an academic institution that faced a tragic cyber attach to their e-learning environment by an insider intruder. Other scholars have documented related security problems in academic institutions.