• Many photo tools, including Photoshop, now allow you to digitally watermark your images. If you're very concerned about security and rights, you can consider using that.

• I don't like this, but some site operators concerned with image security, will plaster a visible notice across the front of the image shown on a Web site. The image can still be discerned, but can't necessarily be copied without the visible notice.

• There are some very high-end tools that are specifically designed for image rights protection. We're not fans of such tools because they reduce the quality of the Web experience for most users -- and they tend to cost more than you'd save from casual pilfering.

I hope that gives you a good start. If you've got a photo-related question, feel free to send it in to editor@connectedphotographer.com. There's no guarantee we can answer it, but it'll give you something fun to do.

Cari Cooney is a freelance writer from Iowa. She has over 50 articles published to the web and can be reached at CariCooney27@gmail.com