About ratings services

The Internet provides unprecedented access to a wide variety of information. Some of this information, however, may not be suitable for everyone. For example, you might want to prevent your children from seeing information with violent or sexual content.

You can control the Internet content that can be viewed from your computer. When you use ratings, Microsoft Internet Explorer only displays rated content that meets your criteria.

When you use ratings, you can:

By default, Internet Explorer uses the ratings service provided by the Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC). You can download other ratings services and use them instead of or in addition to RSAC.

Adjusting the type of content others can see

Allowing others to see restricted or unrated content

Using a different ratings bureau

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Adjust the type of content others can see

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Under Web Browser, click Ratings.
  3. Click Enabled.

    If you created a password for your ratings settings, the Enter Password dialog box appears. Type your password, and then click OK.

  4. Select the content levels you want to allow for violence, sex, nudity, and language.

Note When you enable ratings, Internet access times may be slower.
Tip To control access to ratings settings by using a password, if you have not already done so, click Change Password, and then enter a password. You will need this password each time you change your ratings settings.

Allowing others to see restricted or unrated content

Using a different ratings bureau

Disabling ratings

Top

Allow others to see restricted or unrated content

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Under Web Browser, click Ratings.
  3. Click Enabled.

    If you created a password for your ratings settings, the Enter Password dialog box appears. Type your password, and then click OK.

  4. Click Options.
  5. Do one or more of the following:
  6. Click OK.

Note Not all Internet content is rated. If you allow others to view unrated sites on your computer, some of these sites might contain inappropriate material.
Tip To control access to ratings settings by using a password, if you have not already done so, click Change Password, and then enter a password. You will need this password each time you change your ratings settings.

Adjusting the type of content others can see

Using a different ratings bureau

Disabling ratings

Top

Use a different ratings bureau

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Under Web Browser, click Ratings.
  3. Click Enabled.

    If you created a password for your ratings settings, the Enter Password dialog box appears. Type your password, and then click OK.

  4. Click Options.
  5. In the Ratings bureau box, type the Internet address of the ratings bureau you want to use, and then click OK.

Tip To control access to ratings settings by using a password, if you have not already done so, click Change Password, and then enter a password. You will need this password each time you change your ratings settings.

Allowing others to see restricted or unrated content

Adjusting the type of content others can see

Disabling ratings

Top

Disable ratings

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Under Web Browser, click Ratings.
  3. Click Disabled.

    If you created a password for your ratings settings, the Enter Password dialog box appears. Type your password, and then click OK.

Adjusting the type of content others can see

Allowing others to see restricted or unrated content

Using a different ratings bureau

Top