If you're concerned about the types of information your children or employees can access on the Internet, you'll want to check out the feature in Microsoft Internet Explorer that lets you block what people can see on your computer or network.

Internet Explorer 4.0 provides this protection by supporting a ratings standard from the Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS) committee. The ratings standard lets you stop an entire type of content—such as nudity, sex, or violence—or set access to an allowable degree that's acceptable to you.

How does it work?

With our ratings feature, you can control access to online material using any PICS-based Internet ratings system. Internet Explorer includes a built-in ratings system called RSACi that lets you choose different levels of allowable language, nudity, sex, and violence.

Parents and supervisors can use Internet Explorer to set passwords that are required to view any Web site. Plus, you can block users from accessing Web sites that aren't rated. And because the system is open, you can set up your own ratings system to select what types of content you deem inappropriate for viewing on your computer or network. If you'd like to learn more about ratings systems you can use with Internet Explorer 4.0, see the PICS Web site.

For more information on obtaining a rating for your own site, go to the Recreational Software Advisory Council site or the PICS Web site.