Searching the Internet for an Individual This page describes several search techniques which may help you look for an individual

Using the Internet to search for an individual can be a challenge.  Obviously the more you know about the person, the more likely it will be that you can find them using the Internet.

General Search

Google - You can try searching for the person's name in Google.  This will only work if that person's name has been typed onto a web page, and that web page has also been discovered by Google.  You have to ask yourself; "How 'public' is this person, how likely is it that my target person has built his own web page, or has been mentioned on someone else's web page?".  Another drawback to this approach, is that there may be hundreds/thousands of people with the same exact name as your target person.  See my Overview of search tools for a description of how search engines work.

Google - You can also try searching for the person's email address in Google.  Email addresses are unique (one of a kind).  A regular Google search may show the person's email address on a web page, or in an online guest book. 

Google_groups - Google has a full-text, searchable archive all the text of all the messages posted to the usenet newsgroups for the past 20 years.  You can search these bulletin boards for your person's name or person's email address.  See my Overview of Usenet for more information.

Specific searches - In most searches for individuals, you will have to get into Specific Databases due to the shape of the Internet's Information Space. There are thousands of specialized databases link on my  Specialized Search Tools- page.  Here are some examples:

• public records: searchsystems - links to 20,000+ different public record databases.
• Phone books  - Most people have a telephone.  Online databases such as anywho can quickly locate anyone how has a listed phone number.  Anywho can also show you:  a map to the person's house, and a list of their neighbors' names, addresses, phone numbers. Anywho also allows you to do a reverse lookup (enter the phone number and find out who owns it.
• Country specific search tools and Phone books: as listed on my country-specific search page.
• Real Estate Tax Records - In many counties/states this is public information, and the county may provide that information via the Internet.  See  Fairfax County Tax Assessment   as an example.
• Law Enforcement - They sometimes make information available to the public about criminals such as Sex Offender registries. For example, Virginia's List includes current address, and color photograph.
• Court Records - Most of these are considered public records and may be available online.  You would have to know which court system your target person may have had dealings with.
• Fee-Based Services - There are numerous pay-services which do a simultaneous search such of the public records listed above. Examples: USSearch,  Knowx , Discreetresearch.com , and many more listed at YAhoo.
•  Other public databases - The Fee-based services often describe their sources.  For example, discreetresearch.com mentions many of the resources they search (state criminal records, Motor vehicle records, etc.)  If the Fee-service can search a state's DMV records, there is a good chance that you too can search the state's DMV records.  You would need to find the DMV's website and browse around for a records search. Most state home pages, County home pages, etc. can easily be found using a directory such as Yahoo.
• Personalized searches.  - What else do you know about the person.  For example, if you know they went to a particular college, search for the college's web site, and see if they have an alumni directory. 
• Credit Check - If you are "a business", you might be able to run a credit check on someone if you know enough of their information. Experian , Equifax , Trans Union .

misc articles - Show many other ways some  might be tracked in databases.

• Supermarket Member discount cards - get all the details here.
• All eyes are on you - an article showing the many ways you are tracked during a typical day.
• e911 - your cell phone will be able to track your physical location.
• Future? - GPS in a watch ,  drivers license  site (national database ?),

Note for my Alumni: Your referrals are always appreciated