For Seniors: Use SmartScreen Filter in Internet Explorer
The SmartScreen Filter option in Internet Explorer helps prevent phishing websites from obtaining your private information. SmartScreen Filter also keeps you from downloading malware (malicious software) to your computer.
Click the Tools button on the Internet Explorer toolbar and then choose Safety→Turn On SmartScreen Filter.
The Microsoft SmartScreen Filter dialog box appears. Click OK, and SmartScreen Filtering is turned on. To use SmartScreen Filter, simply visit websites. If IE determines that a website is unsafe because it has suspicious characteristics, or it has been reported as unsafe, Internet Explorer will display a message telling you so.
Also, if you attempt to download software that IE suspects is malicious, you'll see a warning. Sometimes all you are being warned against is that most people don't download a particular piece of software, and so its safety is unknown.
To manually check a website, click the Tools button and choose Safety→Check This Website.
Since the list of unsafe sites is only updated periodically, you can manually check a website you are unsure of. Internet Explorer will then examine the site for characteristics that might indicate it is unsafe. After you choose Check This Website, the SmartScreen Filter window appears, indicating whether this website appears safe. Click the OK button to close the message.
You can report websites you think are unsafe by clicking the Tools button, choose Safety→Report Unsafe Website.
Once turned on, SmartScreen Filter checks websites automatically — and will generate a message if you visit one that has reported problems. Keep in mind, however, that this information is updated only periodically; if you have concerns about a particular site, use the procedure given here to check the latest information about the website.
