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A GUIDE TO PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET

Research methods have come a long way, thanks to technology and the Internet. Internet search engines such as Google.com and Ask.com, and online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia.com are fast replacing the local library as the starting point for term papers, historical reference and yes, even personal information.

Today, it is possible for even beginners to dig up a disturbing amount of personal information on anyone, including you. As more and more cities, counties and states digitize their vast databases, the chances of being able to find that information increases. Information such as criminal records, real estate records, driving histories and business transactions can now be found online with a few mouse clicks.

FREE VS. FEE INFORMATION SITES

There are two types of sources for personal information on the Internet today: Free sources, and paid databases. Free sources of personal information range from search engines to municipal and state websites, and can vary in reliability and availability.

Criminal records can often be located through the local police department website. Property records, including property values and taxes, can be had through the county assessor's office. Want to know if there is a sex offender in your neighborhood? Many states now offer sex offender registry databases, search-able by zip code. Businesses who incorporate must make regular reports to the state, which are then made available online. Often, these reports contain information about the business owners.

In general, anything that is classified as a 'public record' will usually be made available through the city, county or state agency website that controls that particular issue. While most are available free of charge, some require a small research or filing fee.

For a list of local websites that offer public records online, see:

http://www.publicrecordsou rces.com/
http://www.libraryspo t.com/publicrecords.htm

HAVE YOU 'GOOGLED' YOURSELF LATELY?

Users of the popular search engine Google.com can find information about themselves simply by searching for their name inside quotation marks, for example, "John Doe". This method may or may not produce results relevant to you. They may pertain to someone who shares your name but lives in another part of the world. Nonetheless, the results are often rather funny. A search for my own name turns up information about an immigration lawyer, a jazz musician, a sports agent, a priest and a convict.

YOU

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