Byteinstead: Browse the Web with Content Advisor

Published: March 26, 2003

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Available Rating Systems

There are ratings systems available that can be added to the Content Advisor feature of Internet Explorer.

To add a rating system or set of PICSRules, click one of the following links for the system you want.

The Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA) is a non-profit group that has developed a content advisory service for the Internet. Based on the work of Dr. Donald F. Roberts of Stanford University, who has studied the effects of media for nearly 20 years, ICRA's aim is to protect children from potentially harmful material on the Internet.

SafeSurf

The first rating system for the Internet, with a comprehensive 12 category system for rating content on the Web. Their main goal is to employ the SafeSurf Rating Standard on the Internet for the future, while assisting and supporting parents right now.

As a parent you may have concerns about the content your children encounter as they surf the Web. Internet Explorer 6 helps you safeguard your family's browsing experience with Content Advisor, which can be used to control the Web sites that your family can view. With Content Advisor, you can give your children access to a specific list of Web sites that you allow and prevent them from accessing others. Find out how to use it so you can rest easier.

Tip: Did you know that MSN has advanced parental controls that help protect your children on the Web? You can tailor settings for individual children, use age-based content settings, track online activities with weekly activity reports, and more. Read more about MSN.

Activate Content Advisor

To activate Content Advisor, you set yourself up as the Supervisor of Content with a password. Don't lose it!

1.	On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2.	Click the Content tab, and click the Enable button. Content tab in Internet Options box
3.	In the Content Advisor box, click the General tab, and then click the Create Password button.
4.	In the Create Supervisor Password box, type the password you want to use. For solid advice about making a secure password, read this article on how to create strong passwords.
5.	In the Confirm Password box, type the same password again. Internet Explorer requires this to make sure you haven't made a typing error.
6.	In the Hint box, type a hint to help you remember your password, and then click OK. Make sure the hint is one your child won't know the answer to. If you can't come up with something, leave it blank. (But then, of course, you're on your own if you forget the password!) Create Supervisor Password box
7.	Click OK in response to the message about Content Advisor, and then click OK once more. Now every time you bump into Content Advisor's protective walls, you'll need to type the supervisor password to get through.

Be careful! Don't lose your password. To turn off Content Advisor or make any changes whatsoever, you'll need your supervisor password. Store it in a child-proof place away from your computer. Get more ideas about how to keep your password secret in this article on how to create strong passwords.

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Limit Access to Web Sites

With Content Advisor activated, you can create a list of Web sites that can always be viewed by your family. If someone attempts to access a Web site that is not on your approved list, they will be prompted for the Content Advisor Supervisor password to proceed. To create your list of approved and disapproved Web sites, activate Content Advisor using the instructions above and then follow these steps:

1.	On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2.	Click the Content tab, and click the Settings button.
3.	You will be prompted for the Supervisor password. Enter your password and click OK.
4.	In the Content Advisor box, click the Approved Sites tab.
5.	In the field for Allow this Web site, type in the Web address that you want to allow or disapprove.
6.	Click the Always button to add the site to your list of approved Web sites. Or you can click the Never button to restrict access to the site. To remove a site from your list of approved and disapproved sites, click the site name, and then click the Remove button.
7.	When you're finished, click OK. Approved Sites tab in Content Advisor box

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Turn off Content Advisor

1.	On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2.	Click the Content tab, and click the Disable button.
3.	In the Password box, type your supervisor password, and click OK. All users will once again have free access to all sites.

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Change Your Supervisor Password

Perhaps someone guessed your password, or perhaps you're simply following good security measures and changing your password often. Whatever the reason, you can change your password by following these steps:

1.	On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2.	Click the Content tab, and click the Settings button.
3.	In the Password box, type your supervisor password, and click OK.
4.	In the Content Advisor box, click the General tab, and click the Change Password button. General tab in Content Advisor box
5.	In the Old password box, type the password you're using now. This lets Internet Explorer know that you are authorized to change the password.
6.	In the New password box, type the new password.
7.	In the Confirm new password box, type the new password again. Change Supervisor Password box
8.	Type a hint to help you remember your new password, and click OK. Reference: Microsoft.Com