# 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:

- View and adjust the content levels in each of four areas: violence, sex, nudity, and language.
- Control access to ratings settings. You can prevent others from changing the ratings settings by specifying a supervisor password.
- Adjust what types of content other people can view with or without your permission. You can override restricted sites by entering your password.
- View and change the ratings services and bureaus you use.

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.

Related topics

Adjusting the type of content others can see

Allowing others to see restricted or unrated content

Using a different ratings bureau

Adjust the type of content others can see

1. On the Explorer 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.

| When you enable ratings, Internet access times may be slower.
| 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.

Related topics

Allowing others to see restricted or unrated content

Using a different ratings bureau

Disabling ratings

Allow others to see restricted or unrated content

1. On the Explorer 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:
   - To allow others to view unrated content, select the User can see sites which have no rating check box.
   - To allow others to view restricted content, select the Supervisor can type a password to allow users to view restricted content check box.
6. Click OK.

| 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.
| 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.

Related topics

Adjusting the type of content others can see

Using a different ratings bureau

Disabling ratings

Use a different ratings bureau

1. On the Explorer 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.

| 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.

Related topics

Allowing others to see restricted or unrated content

Adjusting the type of content others can see

Disabling ratings

Disable ratings

1. On the Explorer 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.

Related topics

Adjusting the type of content others can see

Allowing others to see restricted or unrated content

Using a different ratings bureau