BERIGAN Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 (Then again, maybe you will!) I just saw an email about this, and sure enough there it was!!!! Ok, I then typed the number of a friend who I am pretty sure has an unlisted number,(His Dad and he share the same name, it may be because of his Dad) and it came up with his name next to the number! I mean, great if you forget someone's name, but have a number written down, but has google become too good???? Someone could just mess around with numbers, find someone and claim to know them when they didn't! Perhaps I am just overreacting??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERIGAN Posted April 28, 2003 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 Well, perhaps I am overreacting a bit, saw just a comment, then opened the letter attached...here is what you can do about it, and may want to do right away after reading this! There is a new feature that makes it possible to type a telephone number into Google's search bar, click the search button, and have a MapQuest or Yahoo page returned as a result. 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 explicit directions on how to get there from anywhere in the country. One positive use of this feature could be to determine the location of, say, an party for whom you may only have a telephone number. On a negative note, this feature could also be used by an angry party to find out where you live. 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., 202-555-1212). 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. Many people are unaware of this danger. I personally, don't want any "Tom, Dick, or Harry" having a direct map (and the map IS perfect) to my house just by having my phone number. Go to www.google.com then type in your phone number. See how accurate the map is.... linked to your phone number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 We're living in the information age, aren't we? Doesn't surprise me one bit. I'm sure with a little searching you could find a lot more private information about someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 Dogpile has had a "reverse look-up" feature for years. You can even enter addresses and find the phone numbers. I used it a bunch when I worked for the census bureau. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chaney Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 This little feature also comes in handy when I find myself doing collection work for my law firm employer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 Well I typed in my number and it didn't reveal anything. I'm pleased! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 Works great! My phone number leads to a museum in England, a bank in Nebraska and a female stripper in Hungary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 a female stripper in Hungary Claude I may need to verify that last one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 Well, my (accurate) name and address pop up, but it's nothing that's not part of the public record. I am listed in the phone book after all. Still, the internet makes such personal information so easy to find that it is kind of scary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 It lists my old address, from about a year ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted April 28, 2003 Report Share Posted April 28, 2003 It lists my address, but it is public information as I am listed in the phone book. Tried a friend of mine who moved to PA in the last year. It lists a Mormon Church! That would explain all those weird phone calls he's getting for Brigham Young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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