Once you have received a valid tracking number from UPS, FedEx or USPS, type that number into Google and you will quickly gain insight into the whereabouts of your package.

Most carriers will send an email with a link that you can click to open the carrier’s website, if the package sender has your email address or if you have an account with the carrier. However, sometimes a tracking number can come from someone you don’t know, such as a seller in your winning eBay auction. You should be cautious about clicking on links in emails for security reasons. Pasting the number into a Google search bar (Bing offers a similar functionality) saves you the potential risk of clicking on an unsafe link.

If your web browser supports it, you can save yourself a step and avoid the copy-and-paste technique. In most modern browsers, highlight the tracking number, right-click, and then select the Search Google option. On an Android phone, highlight the text with your finger, and then press your finger down with a long click until the phone vibrates slightly.

When you enter a valid UPS, FedEx, or USPS tracking number, the first Google result will lead to the tracking information for your package.