Integrity and privacy

TaoScope needs a fair comparison across candidates for the same role. The extension therefore checks that the ticket is yours, that it is used from one machine, and that the session followed the rules shown before you began. Recorded events are used only for hiring review of that application.

This sits alongside the website Privacy Policy. If the two conflict on a point of collection, the Privacy Policy governs website data; this page describes the VS Code extension.

When the extension starts, it registers a hostname and a machine identifier with TaoScope so the editor can be recognised as a candidate client — not an external script calling the same APIs. While the extension is open it also maintains a presence connection so we can tell that the session is live in VS Code.

Verifying a ticket binds that ticket to this computer:

• One host per ticket — the same ticket cannot be started on a second machine.
• A host may only bind a limited number of tickets, which blocks sharing a computer across many applications.
• Presence must be on for ticket-bound API calls from the extension.

During a Technical Assessment session the extension records answers, timing, and focus-away events. Leaving the assessment view — another tab, the terminal, another application, or an AI assistant panel — is timestamped. Repeated leaves reduce the score by 3 points each, up to 15 points. Details are on the Technical Assessment page.

Editor lockdown (closing unrelated tabs and panels) applies to this assessment only, and is on by default.

You must accept a privacy notice before the timer starts. After that, the extension records coding activity inside the assessment workspace:

The submission package is written under .assessment/submission in the workspace and includes a report, a git diff when Git is available, and usually a zip. Reviewers use that package together with the remote branch when a push succeeds.

• Your VS Code settings, other extensions, or files outside the assessment workspace.
• Passwords, seed phrases, or wallet keys. Never paste those into an assessment.
• Browsing history on other sites.
• A video of your screen, by default.
• A second attempt on a ticket that already has a recorded result.

Assessment already started or completed

Each candidate may take an assessment only once. If you stop mid-way or finish, re-entering the same ticket shows your recorded result instead of starting over.

This computer cannot use this ticket

The ticket is already bound to another host, or this host has reached its ticket limit. Continue on the original machine, or contact support@taoscope.com if the original computer is unavailable.

The assessment says it was already completed

That ticket has a stored result. The extension shows it rather than opening a new paper. That is the intended behaviour.

Coding Assessment will not start

Open a trusted folder, accept the privacy notice, and confirm Git is installed if the task clones a repository. The extension cannot start in an untrusted workspace.