Scary - Google will let anyone find you - Scary Privacy Invasion

March 2003 | Unk

[30-06 Springfield]

Go to www.google.com then type in your phone number (separated by hyphens, including area code) and click on Google Search. If your phone number is listed it will show your name and address and give you two map options. Yahoo and MapQuest. See how accurate the map is to your home. VERY SCARY!!!

Any person wishing to discover the physical location of a phone number, be it a home or business address, could use this feature to locate a physical street address, and receive directions on how to get there from anywhere in the country. In the age of the internet communication we all know the dangers of this - for adults and CHILDREN!

Google has made available an option that will allow anyone to REMOVE their telephone number from the database that is linked to the mapping feature.

You will first need to check if your number is listed in this manner by attempting a search-entering your full telephone number separated by dashes (e.g. 555-555-5555). If the number appears in the mapping database, an icon resembling a telephone will appear next to the first or second entry on the results page. Clicking on this icon will take you to a page containing a description of the service, and a link to request your number be removed from the database.

So far unlisted numbers and cell phone numbers, do not show up.

[hobbes1]

And where, pray tell is Jenny?

[AlexW]

This is nothing new. 40 years ago I remember the "Blue Book". I could look up any published listing by telephone number, address, or name.
Anytime you opt to let your local phone company publish your information it is then open to the public in any way.
If you do not go for unlisted number, you can probably have them not post your address.

[discostu]

And to think, back in the old days you actually needed a phonebook and a city map to do the exact same thing. Amazing our society has survived this terible threat.

[Fiddlstix]

Read Later

[Psycho_Bunny]

lolol....before the internet there were "Coles" and "Polk" directories that did the same thing.

[k2blader]

Yikes. I just tried it.

Nothing showed for my number because it's unlisted.

I looked up a friend's listed number, and voila, name, address, maps...

[aimhigh]

Yup, this is why I pay extra for unlisted, unpublished.

Just think, privacy used to be free.

[Black Agnes]

Yup.

[MarMema]

My phone number does not come up, but one thing that was eerie to me was typing in my FR name a few weeks ago....

[fishbabe]

you have to be listed in the phone book...i tried mine and its not there but my friends who are listed are there!!!!

[dark_lord]

On the other hand, if you have a lot of friends and are not paranoid, this is pretty useful. When they want to know how to get to your house for the 1st time just tell them about this feature. They can print out the map, and get driving directions. This is especially useful for "soccer moms" who are always setting up play dates, coordinating home school group meetings, girl scout and boy scout groups, etc.

For those who have enemies, go unlisted. For families that want to communicate, this is useful. And be realistic. The "bad guys" can find you anyway. Hiding under the bed doesn't work.

[TankerKC]

Well, I wasn't so worried until you wrote "CHILDREN" in all caps. Oh boy, that really got me. 'Cuz it's all about the CHILDREN!

[ctdonath2]

Never mind this has been available for decades to anyone with a phone book and a map...

[HenryLeeII]

I'm safe! I just checked it (amazing how fast it came back with the info - the Enter key was hardly up) and the map had me located at the beginning of the cul-de-sac, when actually I'm at the end...nobody will ever find me.</sarcasm> Actually, this is the first time I've allowed myself to be listed in a phone book, and I can assure you it will be the last.

[eno_]

If you think that's scary, anyone who claims to need to collect debts can, for $1 per search, no minimums, go to www.locateplus.com and find lots of kewl stuff about you and your relatives.

[JavaJumpy]

I don't know, but her number's on the wall :)

[tutstar]

Have you ever checked to see if there is a satellite photo of your neighborhood at mapquest? There's one of mine....quite a surprise to me.

[TomServo]

I tried it and it took me right to my house.

Super! Now you know where you live. ;-)

[cinFLA]

I used to do this back in the 1950's. Only I had to go down to the local library and pull the reverse listing off the shelf.

[lawdude]

Doesn't work with my number!