It’s easy to Google reverse image search to learn more about the origins of a photo, but there are free tools that can do even better and help you spot lies on the Internet.
Photos are often taken out of context on the Internet. So it happens again and again that images of alleged current events were first uploaded years ago and are now used for deliberate manipulation – or that someone pretends to be someone else.
To expose such lies, you can use reverse image search from google Use. Simply drag and drop an image into the window and then search engines will find other places on the Internet where the same photo has already been uploaded.
If you don’t want to rely solely on Google, you can use two free alternatives to track images on the web. We introduce them to you.
TinEye: Can be used without installation
A practical option that does not require the installation of add-ons in the browser TinEye, The operating principle there is similar to that of Google.
Simply upload an image from your hard drive or paste a link to the image file into the search box. You can get it like this:
- right click on the image
- copy graphic address
- Paste on TinEye
If an image cannot be saved in this way, you can also take a screenshot of it. Freeware will help you with this green shot,
On top of that, TinEye also offers the extension for chrome And for firefox, If you find it more convenient, just install them.
Revai: Reverse Image Search for Firefox and Chrome
with rave for firefox And chrome You can search for images just as easily. The service tries to search not only Google, but also Bing, Yandex and even TinEye in one go.
Do not be surprised: after installation, the add-on does not appear in the address bar. Instead, to trace a frame backwards, do the following:
- right click on the graphic
- Select “Reverse Image Search”.
- Select Search Engine or “All Search Engines”.
If you select all search engines at once, four new tabs will open in the browser and display the results. There you can find out if the image you are looking for has already been used somewhere.
Reverse Image Search: When Is It Useful?
If you’re wondering in which situations reverse image search can be helpful, here are some examples:
- Suspicious news: Anyone who sees news on Facebook or relevant websites should question the images as evidence. Images are often taken out of context.
- Sayings of love on the Internet: When it comes to online dating, there are many scammers who are out for money and invent all kinds of scams. Image search finds whether it is indeed the specified person with this name.
- References: For example, if you want to find the source or author of a photo, reverse image search is also a handy tool.
- Research Location: If you have a photo of a building or place, you can use reverse image search to quickly find similar scenes and name the building.
If you want to check whether a person is really who they say they are, a reverse search should be followed by a little more clarity. That is, if the name, approximate place of residence and other information match the information in the chat.
If you want to be safe, send each other a photo with a note. It should have a password on it that the other person specifies – but that’s no guarantee against fraudsters, as they never exist.
Freelance twitter maven. Infuriatingly humble coffee aficionado. Amateur gamer. Typical beer fan. Avid music scholar. Alcohol nerd.
