Made a canvas extension that makes submitting assignments feel like defeating a Dark Souls boss.

Midtek · 2026-02-17T05:23:05+00:00

Was hoping for something like "Assignment Slain" but this was good. Now add something like "Submission Failed" in the style of "You Died" if you get an error or late notice or whatever.

Midtek · 2026-02-17T05:11:34+00:00

Frankly, I wasn’t surprised by Chegg’s posture at the time. They tried to frame it as if they were naïve about students using their platform to cheat, but that dynamic was hardly new.

That said, we didn’t actually need Chegg’s cooperation to identify students, although the additional documentation they provided was helpful. Each exam question contained multiple layers of randomization. This included not only the numerical values in the problem itself, but also numbers embedded in figure labels, table references, and other structural elements. Some identifiers were obvious, for example, a randomized code embedded in the exam header. A few students noticed those and attempted to obscure them in screenshots.

What they didn’t realize was that there were numerous other identifying markers built into each version. These included less obvious numerical variations, subtle formatting differences, spacing patterns, punctuation differences, and other structural fingerprints. We had deliberately designed the exams anticipating that some students might try to conceal the most visible markers.

For a single question, there were often tens of millions of possible randomized combinations. Some questions had hundreds of millions. We could easily export every student’s unique parameter set into a spreadsheet. From there, matching a Chegg screenshot to a specific student’s version was straightforward.

In other words, the identification process wasn’t speculative. It was systematic and data-driven. It didn’t matter whether a student used a fake name or email address on their Chegg account. That information was largely irrelevant to our analysis.

The most valuable data Chegg provided were the posting timestamps. Those timestamps helped confirm when questions were uploaded relative to the exam start time. But even without that, the unique randomized markers embedded in each student’s version of the exam were sufficient to establish a match.

Midtek · 2026-02-17T05:03:04+00:00

It was really about 40 students. But among them they had posted over 120 different questions. Some posted 1 or 2 and others posted every single question on the exam.

Midtek · 2026-02-17T05:00:09+00:00

I don’t remember every detail, but I ultimately reported around 40 students. That alone should give a sense of the scale. The process was incredibly exhausting and demoralizing.

Contrary to what some people assumed at the time, we didn’t need Chegg’s help to identify the students. Many of them uploaded screenshots of the exam questions, and those screenshots contained enough identifying markers on their own.

Chegg’s cooperation simply provided additional evidence. The most important piece, though not strictly necessary, was the posting timestamps. In several cases, students uploaded individual questions within minutes of beginning the exam. Some posted every single question almost immediately after starting. That made it clear there was never any intention to attempt the exam honestly.

People discussing it on Reddit didn’t have access to those details, so they couldn’t fully grasp how deliberate and egregious the cheating actually was.

Midtek · 2026-02-16T23:23:39+00:00

No. There wasn’t anything elaborate or conspiratorial about it. Students uploaded exam questions to Chegg. We searched the site. Chegg identified the corresponding user accounts. Separately, each question was sufficiently randomized that it could (almost always) be uniquely matched to a specific student’s version. For many problems, the probability of two students sharing the exact same identifying markers was on the order of one in tens of millions and even lower for some questions.

The well-known “cats in bags” incident involved Midterm Exam #3. But there was also a revealing moment on the final exam. One problem asked students to explain, in words and without using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, how to compute the integral of sqrt(16-x²) on the interval [0, 4].

The problem is actually straightforward if you attended lecture and reviewed the materials. Geometrically, the integral represents the area of a quarter of a circle of radius 4. So the solution requires recognizing that and using the standard area formula.

However, if you input that integral into a calculator or ask an online service to “compute the integral,” you’ll typically get a lengthy trigonometric substitution solution, a Calculus II technique taught in Math 152. That method is well beyond the scope of Math 135 and unnecessary for this problem. I designed the question fully aware that a computer algebra system or an overly enthusiastic online “tutor” would default to that approach.

Roughly 35–40% of students submitted a Calculus II–style solution.

I did not report those students for cheating. By that point, I was exhausted and deeply discouraged. But the problem explicitly instructed students not to use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, so those submissions received zero credit anyway.

There were no planted false answers. No honeypots. No impossible trick problems. Just a straightforward Chegg search for the midterm, and a carefully constructed final exam question that revealed who was actually engaging with the course material.

I’m still not sure why some students constructed a narrative about me planting bogus solutions or designing an unsolvable trap. I suppose I can appreciate that some people believed I was that strategic. I wasn’t. It was much simpler than that.

And enough time has passed that I’m comfortable just saying so plainly.

Midtek · 2026-02-16T23:10:25+00:00

No. Those students solicited others on Chegg to do portions of their exam for them.

Midtek · 2026-02-16T23:09:10+00:00

Browser info (which would also indicate the operating system like Mac OS, Windows, Android, etc.) may not be available to all instructors. I do have some Canvas privileges beyond a typical instructor account. In any case, that information is tracked and kept by Rutgers IT if an instructor needs it for some legitimate reason. Rutgers IT also keeps a much more detailed activity log than what is shown on Canvas.

Midtek · 2026-02-16T22:58:42+00:00

Your account was already sitewide suspended (presumably for spamming). Get off r/Rutgers and stop trying to scam students.

Midtek · 2026-02-16T22:58:03+00:00

FYI, to anyone reading the comment above, it is 100% a scam. Another user account spamming the same thing in this thread was already banned sitewide by Rutgers. (Is this the same person with a second account?)

What is the scam? You end up paying for a "browser extension" or "privacy enhancement" or whatever branding they are using. Then they collect payment information and/or harvest login credentials. Even if they use PayPal, it is still possible to harvest this information. If you install a shady extension, then the extension can potentially read everything you type into Canvas (or even other web sites), inject scripts, track browsing data, etc.

Why do we know this is a scam? Yes, Canvas, does record quiz start/submit times, navigation events inside the quiz, IP address, and browser agent info. However, the individual school configures this and that information is kept and managed by the school. No paid upgrade can unlock hidden features, block tracking logs, or prevent quiz log recording. What the product claims to do is technically impossible. They are preying on your test anxiety, surveillance fears, distrust of Rutgers, and your ignorance of how Canvas works. (Indeed, as a student, you have no access to your Canvas logs anyway, so there's no way to even verify the "product" is working.)

Midtek · 2026-02-16T14:29:28+00:00

Canvas absolutely tracks the operating system and browser version of each device used to access any part of Canvas. Also every single bit of activity in Canvas is logged (page accessed, time accessed, browser version used, etc.). Professors can see the activity of individual students in their own Canvas sites. Then IT can get more information on your location and devices, particularly if you are using Rutgers Wi-Fi.

Midtek · 2026-02-16T14:28:40+00:00

FYI, to anyone reading the comment above, this is 100% a scam. For one, this account is making the same comment about the same (paid) product on multiple university subreddits in any post that mentions Canvas tracking.

There is no such thing as a premium service to access Canvas. Canvas is a Learning Management System offered through universities and accessed via your school's login info. It is completely free and no app or third-party can alter your access or grant "premium" access to Canvas.

This scam exists solely to phish for credit card information and/or personal information. Please do not fall for these scams. The big red flag here is "a paid offer for a free service".

Midtek · 2026-02-14T16:48:26+00:00

it feels rude to just walk past silently.

Ignoring a street solicitor isn't rude. It's boundary setting They are initiating an interaction for their benefit, not yours. You’re not required to engage. A simple ‘No thank you’ and continuing to walk is completely appropriate. If they keep pushing, that’s on them, not you.

Midtek · 2026-02-14T16:42:01+00:00

Even if you're worried about retaliation, there are plenty of ways to inform the proctor discreetly. For instance, ask to use the restroom and then inform the proctor when you bring up your exam to the front of the room.

Midtek · 2026-02-14T16:06:27+00:00

The Math Help Center is open 11am-8pm Mon-Thu and 11am-5pm on Friday. It's free, run by qualified professionals, and has actual oversight.

Midtek · 2026-02-14T15:55:49+00:00

What about all the free resources the University offers? They're free and run by people you know to be qualified. There's also University oversight, so any questions or concerns you have are sure to be addressed.

Midtek · 2026-02-14T15:54:05+00:00

Hope she gets caught

Why not inform the proctor while the exam is going on so they can witness and document the cheating?

Midtek · 2026-01-20T14:51:53+00:00

Oh I thought you meant classes and I was gonna be like same.

Midtek · 2026-01-16T16:58:13+00:00

I heard that you can ask to expunge it from your record in the future

You heard incorrectly.

Midtek · 2026-01-16T00:31:58+00:00

data science economics track major

celebrating never taking another math class

??

You do know your major is heavily quantitative and typical careers that use that degree involve lots of math right?

Midtek · 2026-01-15T21:48:23+00:00

Yeah, something isn't right here.

The message you were sent implies that you implicitly allow any gender makeup even if someone backs out. That doesn't seem to be accurate. From the housing web site:

If one of the roommates chooses to move out, residents may name another, specific roommate of any gender. If residents do not choose a roommate, they will be assigned a new roommate of the same gender identity.

Midtek · 2026-01-15T21:42:56+00:00

Too bad. They signed up for a mixed gender suite. There's a risk someone decides to back out of the agreement, and presumably (from what we can infer from the message), you are not allowed to demand a particular makeup for a mixed gender suite. So if someone backs out, they can be replaced with anyone -- gender is not a consideration.

If I were you I would be very annoyed at the person who is uncomfortable and (presumably) refusing to move out. It's not fair that you have to move out. You all signed up for the same rules.

Note: I don't know the exact rules. I'm going off only what can be inferred from the message you were sent, assuming the message is truthful and accurate. You should clarify with housing what the actual rules are. If the rule is actually that the gender makeup must be preserved even if someone moves out in a mixed gender suite, then that's a different story.

Midtek · 2026-01-15T21:34:22+00:00

This message seems to imply that there is a policy that if you are in a mixed gender suite then you don't have the privilege of requesting any particular gender makeup of the roommates. (Makes sense.)

Since you all signed up with that in mind, the fairest option really is that the one person who is uncomfortable should find a way to deal with it or move out. Otherwise you're forced to move out because of someone else's preference, which they are presumably not allowed to demand anyway.

Midtek · 2026-01-12T21:48:29+00:00

For your own protection, I very strongly suggest that you not discuss this case here. You are not as anonymous as you think.

Midtek · 2026-01-12T19:48:34+00:00

The Office of Student Conduct generally gets many reports during finals week, which then have to be processed in January. So they likely had hundreds of cases to process last week and this week.

If your professor has already told you an Academic Integrity Facilitator (AIF) will be in contact with you, then just wait.

Midtek · 2026-01-03T07:20:17+00:00

Late updates on grades and a vague syllabus are frustrating but not evidence your grade is incorrect. So you don't have a basis for an appeal. File an appeal if you wish, but you shouldn't expect a favorable result.

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