The Family Online Safety Institute: Protecting your online future

Since the release of Internet Explorer 3.0 in 1996, Microsoft has included support for self-rating systems in its browser. It was designed to work primarily with the old RSACi rating system that was replaced by ICRA in 2000. Although ICRA owns the intellectual property in the RSACi system that is still included in WIndows, Content Advisor is Microsoft not ICRA software

The significant differences in approach between the old RSACi and modern ICRA rating systems mean that the set-up procedure and use is not as clear as everyone would like. Furthermore, some aspects of the ICRA system are not properly supported; for example requiring a webmaster to have declared that a particular kind of content is absent. Also, there are differences in the way Content Advisor and other filters find ICRA labels on websites. This can lead to some unexpected results.

However, Content Advisor is a feature of Internet Explorer, it can be used with the ICRA system in at least a limited way, it’s already installed on your machine and does offer a degree of parental control.

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FAQ 3.2 How do I use Content Advisor with ICRA?

Setting up Microsoft Internet Explorer’s Content Advisor is not difficult but you do need to follow several steps carefully. We have provided a complete walk-through that includes a lot of graphics and may therefore take a while to download. Please be patient when you click the link below.

NB. This advice only applies to Windows users. We have been unable to successfully configure Content Advisor to work with ICRA on a Mac.

Next steps and related topics

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FAQ 3.3 How do I remove Content Advisor?

Content Advisor is part of Microsoft Internet Explorer not a separate piece of software that you can uninstall.

However, as there is a link to this website within Content Advisor, ICRA receives a number of requests for help with Microsoft’s software due to a single problem that has several different symptoms including:

  • Content Advisor has enabled itself and assigned itself a password;
  • Internet Explorer is giving ‘Error – missing information” messages when the browser is started;
  • Content Advisor is not being disabled even after the correct procedure is followed;
  • Content Advisor is not storing settings or Approved Sites list correctly;
  • Content Advisor is not filtering any sites, even ones I have marked as Never being accessible through the Approved Sites list.

If you are running Windows 2000 or Windows XP you will need to contact Microsoft support directly for help with this.

If you are running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows ME the problem can be solved by following a number of steps for which we have provided step by step guides. Please choose from the links below.

Next steps:

  • If you are using Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT, please click here.
  • If you are using Windows ME please click here.
  • If you are using any other version of Windows, please see Microsoft support

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FAQ 3.4 I have forgotten my Content Advisor password. What can I do?

Unfortunately, because this is a security issue, you will need to follow regular support options with Microsoft Support. ICRA is not able to provide support for forgotten or unknown passwords. However, there is a known bug which can cause Content Advisor to activate itself without your having set a password. This eventuality is handled in FAQ 3.3.

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FAQ 3.5 How do I change my Content Advisor password?

This one’s easy… when someone tells you how to find the [Change Password] button!

  • click [Tools] > [Internet Options]
  • Click the [Content] tab
  • In Content Advisor, click Settings and enter your existing password
  • Click the [General] Tab
  • Locate and click the [Change Password] button
  • Follow the on-screen instructions.

Please note: once you have set a password, you can only disable it; you cannot remove the password from Content Advisor.

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FAQ 3.6 How do I disable filtering in my browser?

In Internet Explorer’s menu bar:

  1. select [Tools] > [Internet Options], then click on the [Content] tab.
  2. In the Content Advisor section select ‘Disable’ and, when prompted, enter the password you originally set, then press [Enter].
  3. The button you clicked to Disable will now read Enable.
  4. Click [OK] to close the window.

If Internet Explorer’s Content Advisor has “enabled itself” – that is, neither you nor any other user have enabled it deliberately – please look now at FAQ 3.3.

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