Welcome to Smowltech. Our mission is to help you achieve your academic goals by guaranteeing a secure, fair, and accessible evaluation environment for everyone. To achieve this, we have developed SMOWL CM (Computer Monitoring), a tool designed to ensure the integrity of your tests from the comfort of your home.
In this article, we will guide you step-by-step to make the installation on your Apple device a success. This process is simple, but requires attention to the privacy configuration details of macOS for everything to function correctly on the day of your exam.
1. Previous technical requirements
Before proceeding with the download, it is essential that you check if your computer meets the minimum specifications. This will prevent technical interruptions during your monitoring activity.
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2. Where to download SMOWL CM?
You do not need to look for the installer on an external website. The customized download link is located within your own educational platform (LMS), in the course or exam where you are going to perform the supervised activity.
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Depending on the platform used by your institution, the location may vary slightly:
Moodle or OpenLMS: It usually appears as a specific sidebar block titled "SMOWL".
Blackboard, Canvas, or D2L: You will generally find a direct download button within the SMOWL tool integrated into the activity.
If you have difficulty locating the link, we recommend contacting the teaching staff or your institution's technical support.
3. Step-by-step installation process
Once you have downloaded the .dmg file, follow these instructions to install it correctly on your system:
Locate the file: Go to your "Downloads" folder and double-click the SMOWL CM file.
Visual Installation: A pop-up window will open. To complete the installation, simply drag the SMOWL CM icon to the "Applications" folder.
Finalize the process: Once copied, you can close the window. To keep your computer tidy, go back to "Downloads," right-click on the installer, and select "Eject" or drag it to the trash.
⚠️ Processor Error: Intel or Apple Silicon (ARM64)?
For SMOWL CM to run smoothly on macOS, you must install the version specifically designed for your processor type. If you install the Intel version on a Mac with Apple Silicon, you will see this warning:
1. How do I know which processor my Mac has?
Follow these steps to choose the correct download:
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
Select About This Mac.
In the window that appears, look for:
Chip: If it says Apple M1, M2, M3 (or later), you have Apple Silicon (ARM64).
Processor: If it lists an Intel Core i5, i7, etc., you have an Intel processor.
2. What should I do if I installed the wrong version?
If you see the incompatibility warning, follow these steps:
Remove the current version: Open your Applications folder, find SMOWL CM, and drag it to the Trash.
Download the correct version:
Click the "Download ARM64 Version" button (if you have Apple Silicon) directly from the warning window.
Or return to the download page and select the version that matches your chip.
Reinstall: Open the new
.dmgfile and drag the icon to Applications as usual.
4. Critical permission configuration in macOS
Due to Apple's security policies, you must manually authorize SMOWL CM so that it can monitor your academic activity. Without these permissions, the system will not be able to validate your test.
Screen Recording Permissions
Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner and select System Settings.
Navigate to Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording.
Find SMOWL CM in the list and activate the switch. If it does not appear, click the "+" button and look for the application in your "Applications" folder to add it manually.
Accessibility Permissions
This permission is necessary for SMOWL CM to detect interactions that are not permitted during the test.
In the same Privacy & Security section, select Accessibility.
Activate the checkbox next to the SMOWL CM logo.
If the system asks for your Mac user password to make this change, enter it and click Modify Settings.
5. Verification and test evaluation
For your peace of mind, we recommend verifying that the installation is correct before the day of the actual exam.
Open your Applications folder and double-click SMOWL CM.
If the application opens without errors, the basic installation is correct.
Mock exam: Consult with your institution if a "Demonstration Exam" is enabled. Performing this preliminary test is the best way to ensure that permissions have been correctly granted and that your internet connection is stable for monitoring.
🚨 Important: We recommend that, to improve your experience during the activity, avoid using the maximize button. You can stretch it as much as possible to cover the screen.
SMOWL CM needs to verify that everything is working correctly between page reloads, keeping the browser and SMOWL CM open on the same screen prevents desktop switching behavior. |
6. The auto-update process
At Smowltech we work continuously to improve your experience. Starting with version 5.0, SMOWL CM includes an auto-update system. This means that if a new version is available, the software will update automatically when you try to access a supervised exam.
Once the update is complete, the tool will restart on its own and you can begin your activity with complete normalcy.
It is not necessary for you to manually uninstall and reinstall every time we launch an improvement.
7. Troubleshooting: Update failures
Occasionally, external factors such as internet micro-cuts or system permissions can block the automatic update. If you see an error message on the screen:
Uninstall the old version: Drag SMOWL CM from "Applications" to the trash.
Download the new version: Access your virtual campus again and download the updated installer.
Refresh the browser: Once installed again, reload the exam page in Chrome.
8. Antivirus Configuration and Exclusions
Some security software may mistakenly identify the SMOWL CM update process as suspicious activity. To prevent this, add SMOWL CM to your antivirus's "Exclusions" or "Exceptions" list.
Here we explain how to do it in the most common ones:
Avast
1. Open Avast and go to “Menu” (upper right corner).
2. Select “Settings”.
3. In the menu on the left, go to “Protection” and select “Main Shields”.
4. Scroll down until you find “Exclusions”.
5. Click “Add file” or “Add folder”.
6. Locate the update.exe file or folder containing SMOWL CM and select it.
7. Save the changes
You can learn more about how to exclude SMOWL CM in Avast by clicking on the following link:
Norton antivirus
1. Open Norton and go to “Settings”.
2. Select “Antivirus” → “Scanning and risks”.
3. Find the “Items to exclude from scanning” section and click “Configure”.
4. Click “Add folders” or “Add files” as needed.
5. Locate update.exe or the SMOWL CM folder and add it.
6. Save the changes.
You can learn more about how to exclude SMOWL CM in Avast by clicking on the following link:
Mcafee
1. Open McAfee and go to “Settings” → “Real-Time Scanning”.
2. Click “Exclusions” or “Add exclusions”.
3. Select the option to add a file or folder.
4. Locate the update.exe file or SMOWL CM folder and add it.
5. Save the changes.
Bitdefender
1. Open Bitdefender and go to “Protection”.
2. Select “Antivirus Settings”.
3. Find the “Exclusions” section and click “Manage exclusions”.
4. Click “Add exclusion” and select the type (file or folder).
5. Locate the SMOWL CM file or folder and add it.
6. Enable the option to exclude it from both on-access and scanning analysis.
By following these steps, you will be ready to carry out your assessments with complete assurance and security. At Smowltech, we are here so that your only concern is demonstrating everything you have learned.
Do you have more questions?
Check our related articles or contact our support team through the chat. You can open it by clicking the blue owl located in the lower right corner of this page.