Sleuthing the internet: 10 easy tricks you should have learned sooner

Users can trace the online locations of their photos with the help of the website Pimeyes.

A wealth of information awaits on the internet, but it requires skill to navigate and find it.

Here are some simple, powerful tricks to level up your sleuthing skills.

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See the details of any website

Be cautious before accepting a free trip to Hawaii from a website that requires your personal information and credit card.

A WHOIS search checks a database for domain name and registrant information, allowing you to determine the website owner's business address and contact details.

woman buying something online — A woman is seen holding a credit card while using a laptop. (iStock)

How do you get this done?

Look up a domain name using a WHOIS website. There are many options available online. I prefer who.is.
Searching the site's URL will reveal the owner's contact information, including their address and phone number.

If you suspect a friend is being scammed, use this tech trick to save them money and embarrassment!

Protecting your IP address is crucial if you value your privacy.

Run a free background check

Everyone has a stake in your online business, whether they like it or not. To check what the internet has on you, simply follow these quick and easy steps.

Searching for your name on Google will reveal information about your affiliations, social profiles, and any images of you online.
Don't forget to check your credit score. You can obtain a free credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion annually. You can access your report online by visiting this link. Additionally, make sure to check your credit score with Innovis as well.
Family tree sites can be entertaining and enlightening, but also highly intrusive. Check out FamilyTreeNow.com to discover the truth.

Find out who your neighbor is

You can discover your identity through county assessor websites, which utilize data from assessors to estimate the value of real property in a county, city, town, or village.

close up of hands of business person working on computer, man using internet and social media — A close-up of the hands of a person using a laptop. (iStock)

You can view the location of your person of interest, obtain information about their home or other properties, and even access signed documents such as their deed.

The simplest way to locate your county assessor's website is through a quick Google search. Simply enter the county name followed by "assessor." Additionally, you can visit Publicrecords.netronline.com, which provides a directory of official state and county websites that can be searched by ZIP code.

The Maricopa County site in Arizona has a unique way of working, but here's a general guide on how to search on it.

To access detailed information and related documents for a specific parcel, click on the parcel number after searching for it using the County Assessor option.

Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com: How to Remove Photos of Your Home

A picture is worth a thousand words

What about pictures of you on these sites?

worth checking to see what pops up.

Upload an image to find it across the internet with Pimeyes, a useful tool for tracking down where your photos appear online. Be cautious, as you may receive blurred-out images from adult content.
Another reverse image search tool that may provide additional results is TinEye.

Google Maps is pictured on a phone. (Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

RELATED: Think of Google Lens as the smarter version of Google Images.

Go down memory lane

Online sleuthing can be enjoyable when searching for information about homes you've lived in or are considering purchasing.

Explore old Street View photos on Google Maps to relive the past and see how a place has changed over time. I've found photos dating back over a decade. It's a great way to experience virtual nostalgia.

On Google Maps, enter an address and click on the photo that appears.
Choose See more dates to scroll through the photos.

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