Cluely? More Like Clueless: How We Catch “Undetectable” Cheating Tools

How Proctaroo Detects Cheating Tools Like Cluely—and Why It Matters

Cheating in exams and interviews isn’t new, but the methods are evolving fast. Tools like Cluely, an “invisible” AI overlay designed to assist students and job applicants during assessments, have raised serious concerns across education and hiring. At Proctaroo, we built a solution not just to detect Cluely, but to secure any kind of digital assessment, whether it’s a coding test, an Excel exam, or a technical interview.

Why We Built Cluely Detection

Read our TechCrunch feature here.

The motivation was personal. Over the past few years, our team has conducted more than 400 interviews, and the number of candidates attempting to cheat is staggering. Sometimes it’s obvious; other times it’s a gut feeling with no way to prove it. I’ve also watched instructors abandon digital exams and force students back to pen-and-paper just to keep things fair. That’s frustrating for everyone.

We realized Proctaroo could solve both problems: restoring fairness to assessments while allowing students and candidates to prove their knowledge using the tools they’re expected to learn.

But there’s also an ethical dimension. Cluely’s founders like to compare their tool to the calculator, arguing that AI is just the next step in “natural progression.” The difference? A calculator helps you apply what you already understand, it doesn’t bypass learning altogether. AI can. That’s why knowledge still needs to be tested, and exams and interviews aren’t going away anytime soon.

What’s worse, Cluely’s promise of being “undetectable” isn’t just false, it’s dangerous. Students risk suspension or expulsion. Job candidates risk being blacklisted by companies and potentially across entire industries. Even if you get past the early rounds, most top employers run in-person assessments before making an offer. In the end, you’re just wasting everyone’s time, including your own.

How We Detect Cluely (and Similar Tools)

Cluely claims to be undetectable. It’s not.

Proctaroo works by installing a lightweight, native application on both Windows and macOS machines. When a session is active, we see running apps and processes, including those that try to hide in the background. Cluely is no exception.

We take a different approach from traditional proctoring tools. Instead of locking down devices or imposing rigid formats, we empower hosts to define what’s allowed upfront. Proctaroo simply reports any behavior that falls outside those rules. That could mean spotting an unauthorized AI tool, a messaging app, or any other process you haven’t approved. You stay in full control of what’s acceptable, and get a clear report at the end of each session.

Where We’re At—and What’s Next

We’re already working with forward-thinking institutions like Brown University and are expanding fast.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• No lockdown browsers

• Full compatibility with any outside tool

• Real-time user analysis and authorship verification

We like to say: You provide the exam format, we provide the integrity.

As AI-powered cheating tools become more sophisticated, the need for modern, flexible integrity solutions has never been greater.

Proctaroo addresses this gap directly, giving instructors and employers the freedom to test real skills—without compromising on fairness or flexibility.