Explore the features: Microsoft Phishing Filter in Internet Explorer

Microsoft Phishing Filter in Internet Explorer

This feature is included in the following editions of Windows Vista:

	Home Basic
	Home Premium
	Business
	Ultimate

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The Microsoft Phishing Filter in Windows Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8 uses an online service that continues to be updated with industry information about fraudulent websites. This service warns you about both known and suspected fraudulent sites.

The Phishing Filter combines a local (client side) system scanning for suspicious website characteristics with an online service. This opt-in feature uses two “checks” to help protect users from phishing scams:

The Phishing Filter.

• It analyzes websites users want to visit by checking those sites for characteristics common to phishing sites.

• It sends the website address to an online service run by Microsoft to be checked against a list of reported and known phishing sites.

If the website you are trying to visit is a known phishing site, Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8 signifies a threat level (in red) and automatically navigates you to a neutral warning page. If a site has not been confirmed as a phishing site but is behaving like many phishing sites do, you'll be warned and shown a yellow flag in the Address Bar. You can report any phishing sites or false positives to the Phishing Filter directly from your browser.

The Phishing Filter is not enabled by default—you must actively enable the feature the first time you use the browser after installation. You can enable and disable the Phishing Filter with just a single click at any time using the browser menus.