Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 - Toggle Displaying Suggested Sites to Find Similar Websites You May Not Have Previously Visited

SUMMARY: Internet Explorer 8 can display sites similar to those you are browsing. Learn how to toggle this feature on or off.

Internet Explorer 8 comes with a "Suggested Sites" feature that lets you click a pull-down in the Favorites Toolbar to display sites similar to those you browse often. If you keep browsing the same sites on the Internet, this feature lets you find similar sites you may not have seen otherwise.

While some people might like this feature, providing them lists of new websites in which they might be interested, others may be concerned about their privacy as the web addresses to visited sites are sent to Microsoft to create the suggestions. You may wish to turn this feature completely off, or you might want to turn it on or off depending on the sites you are browsing. For example, when accessing web e-mail and other tools where URLs could contain identifiable information, you may wish to turn Suggested Sites off.

1. Access the Internet Options dialog box. If the menu bar is visible, you can select "Tools" - "Internet Options". If the Command Bar is visible, click the "Tools" button and select "Internet Options". If neither are available, try typing Alt + T then O.

2. When the "Internet Options" dialog box appears, click the "Advanced" tab.

3. Underneath "Settings", scroll down underneath "Browsing" to "Enable Suggested Sites". Check or uncheck this box as desired.

4. Click "OK" to close the dialog box and store your settings.

For more information about privacy issues related to Internet Explorer 8's Suggested Sites, visit:

* Internet Explorer Privacy Policy: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/privacy.aspx