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.

[Doctor Stochastic]

I tried to find Saddam's number here. It just said "up."

[P-Marlowe]

Doesn't work for unlisted numbers.

Apparently it does if your phone number has been placed in any internet database, such as an online job search or a classified ad.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

How is this different from the phone book or 411?

[taxcontrol]

Heee heee heee,

I've had my "new" number for a year now. Google search shows the wrong person's name at the wrong address. Must be the old owner of the number.

[GovernmentShrinker]

A partial listing is a good option for those who want people to be able to look up their phone number to call them. Name and phone number only -- town or city can be derived from the phone number, but nobody can pay a visit to your house when all they started out with was your name or phone number.

[6323cd]

I wonder how many Freepers know what a Gumby is? :-)

[PatrickHenry]

You can also type street address, city, state into Google, and you get a link to a street map to the address. Old stuff.

[softengine]

I understand that Paladin Press in Boulder has a broad selection of these kinds of reading materials.....for educational purposes.

[Middle Man]

'Pick up the book "How to be Invisible" if this stuff bothers you.'

I looked for this title at my favorite bookstore, but when I got to the shelf where it was supposed to be, there was nothing there. ;^)

(I agree, this is a serious matter.)

[angcat]

Wow, it's just like the phone book, if anyone comes to my house looking for me I will shoot them. I'm in that kind of a mood.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Ping....Hey, are you reading this one?... You're there, as well as me.

[i_dont_chat]

I tried it with my phone number.

Shows my name -- but not my address.

Good move on my part several years ago. I insisted that the Phone Company NOT LIST my address in the Phone Book.

Think about it. I have my phone number listed -- but NOT MY ADDRESS. I can be reached by phone but not in person or by mail......

[Poohbah]

Didn't work for me.

[thatsnotnice]

When I type in my number it comes up with the right street address, but wrong city and zip code. The map looks nice, but it’s about five miles off. This is an “unlisted” number, btw, so maybe that’s why the zip (and consequently the city that zip belongs to) is wrong.

[stainlessbanner]

I tried 867-5309.

[templar]

Phone books, Property tax rolls, building permits, drivers licenses, H.S. graduation lists of your kids, ad infinitum. Public records are public records. If anyone wants to find you they will. The internet just saves the footwork that used to get PI's called gumshoes.

[baseballmom]

Okay, I'm one of the unthinking masses. Never realized this stuff was online.

[Constitution Day]

I tried 867-5309.

Jenny, Jenny, who can I turn to?

[dfwgator]

"I'm Gumby dammit, I'm show business."