Some tips for evaluating the information you are looking at can be found below:
DNA or private information collection from websites
Before you begin your own searching and googling, a warning must be issued for websites who either ask you for DNA, or ask you to upload your private information to their site. Before committing to these, it is a good idea to read their full privacy terms and conditions, and whether they store or destroy your information after they are complete.
Sites like this can include:
- Ancestry DNA
- 23 and Me
- Find My Past (this website is included in this library guide, so please use with caution)
- Family Search
- National Genealogical Society
- My Ancestors
The below tips can help you avoid any unwanted sharing of your data:
- SIFT
SIFT is an acronym that means: Stop, investigate the Source, find better coverage, trace the original context
This formula is used to assess websites to find ones that are giving you correct information, and from a reliable source so this will help you to not fall for the above websites (Caulfield, 2019). This is also a good one to use to save money. Although the above sites will do the searching for you if you pay them, this does not mean the information you want to get your hands on isn’t out there for you to find .
- Website domains
Another tip is to always check the website domain names, see below table from Charles Sturt University and their tips for evaluating websites
Making sure to use government websites is a great way to ensure the information is reliable.