Skip to main content

PhotoTracker Lite allows photographers to track stolen images in one click

A new web browser plug-in is aiming to make it easier for photographers to find stolen photos by automating reverse image searches. PhotoTracker Lite is a free Chrome plug-in and thanks to a recent update, it now includes a one-click search.

The plug-in doesn’t automate the entire process but shaves time off the process of bringing up a reverse engine search by looking through four different search engines with one click. With the update, a small magnifying glass now appears on the corner of photos in a compatible browser window. Clicking on that icon automatically brings up a page of search results showing everywhere the image was found. A right click will also bring up a “Look up this pic” option to search as well.

Recommended Videos

The updated plug-in makes it possible for photographers to go through their own portfolio, click on the corner of an image and bring up where that photo exists on the web. While still a manual search and not an automated tracking service, the free plug-in aims to make reverse image searches easier.

While the Google-branded browser offers a similar plug-in, PhotoTracker Lite uses four different search engines to track possible stolen images. Photographers can choose to search Google, Bing, Yandex, and Tineye all at once, or slide to turn off individual search engines.

PhotoTracker Lite is compatible with Chrome as well as Opera, Vivaldi, and Yandex browsers.

Along with helping track images lifted off a photographer’s portfolio, developers say the plug-in is also a helpful tool for locating a larger size of a (hopefully public domain) image or finding other social media users stealing a profile picture. The tool can also give bloggers and website managers an idea of how often a stock or public domain image is used.

Since Google’s reverse image search also often turns up extra details, the plug-in can also be used as a sort of Shazam for photos to look up information on a painting’s creator, for example, or to find out who is depicted in that photograph.

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
The new Polaroid Flip comes with sonar autofocus
The Polaroid Flip camera, launched in April 2025.

Polaroid has just unveiled a new camera for some instant analog fun.

The Flip comes with fewer features than Polaroid's pricier I-2 model, but is more advanced than the Go, Polaroid's most basic instant camera -- so it could hit the sweet spot for some folks looking for such a device.

Read more
The best space imagery from Don Pettit’s incredible 7-month mission
The Betsiboka River estuary in Madagascar.

Photographer extraordinaire Don Pettit is about to return to Earth following a seven-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

During his time in orbit some 250 miles above Earth, Pettit has been sharing breathtaking photos and videos of Earth and beyond, featuring everything from star trails and aurora to rocket launches and cityscapes.

Read more
Best tech deals for mom: A Mother’s Day gift guide
The Garmin Lily 2 smartwatch, in purple and gold colors.

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and for the tech savvy moms and wives out there, we've rounded up the best gift ideas for the special day. With huge discounts up for grabs on these popular devices, it's going to be a good idea to push forward with any purchases as soon as possible -- not only to secure the savings, but also to make sure that your Mother's Day gifts will arrive on time. We've got something for everyone, so read on if you need help finding that perfect gift.

Garmin Lily 2 -- $200 $250 20% off

Read more