ChatGPT in a Second Tab vs an Invisible Overlay
Almost every proctoring flag people collect comes from the same action: leaving the exam window.
Why the second tab gets caught
- —Tab-switch and window-blur events are logged by nearly every platform
- —Screen recordings show the other window plainly
- —Pasted answers appear as instant blocks in editors
- —Full-screen exits are warned and counted
- —Reviewers see the whole sequence in the replay
How Blackbird fits in
A browser tab is inside the environment being watched. An overlay is not: it is drawn above the display, never takes focus, and is excluded from screen capture.
Blackbird is a lightweight native Windows overlay drawn at the system compositor level. It is not a browser tab, an Electron window, or a shared surface, so it does not show up in screen recordings, screen-share streams, or active-window checks. It stays on top, accepts clicks without stealing focus, and disappears instantly with a hotkey. You can keep using ChatGPT — just link your account or key inside Blackbird instead of opening another window.
Practical tips
- +Link ChatGPT through OAuth or paste an OpenAI key — both are supported.
- +Never alt-tab during a proctored session.
- +Type answers instead of pasting.
- +Keep the overlay near the question text to minimise eye movement.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my ChatGPT Plus account?
Yes. Blackbird links ChatGPT through OAuth with PKCE and stores no credentials, or you can use a plain OpenAI API key.
Are my API keys safe?
Keys are encrypted at rest on your machine using Windows DPAPI.
Does chat history get uploaded?
No. History is off by default and, when enabled, is written only to local AppData.
Does it work offline?
Yes, with a local Ollama model.
You are responsible for following the rules of any exam, employer or institution you use Blackbird with. No tool can account for human observation or behavioural review.