Phone # Search Warning

[DuneAHH]

Google has implemented a new feature which enables you to type a telephone number into the search bar and hit enter, and you will be given the person's name and address. If you then hit MapQuest, you will get a map to the person's house. Everyone should be aware of this! It's a nationwide reverse telephone book.

If a child gives out his/her phone number, someone can now look it up to find out where he/she lives. The safety issues are obvious and alarming.

Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. I tried my number and it came up along with the map and directions straight to our house. I did fill out the removal form for myself, and encourage all of you to do the same.

In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to Google at www.google.com, type your phone number in the search bar (e.g. 555-555-1212) and press enter. If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information, simply click on your telephone number and then click on the Removal Form. Removal takes 48-hours.

Please share this information with friends and family.

 

[Beach Runner]

These search tools have been around for years. Some can even reverse search cell numbers. What ticks me off is that some of these sites give my age!

At least they don't give my weight.

 

[kathydwells]

Just a note. If you phone number is an unpublished number, it will not show up in these searches. Which is exactly why my phone number is unpublished.

 

[Smiling JOe]

As BR said, this search feature has been around for a long time. Not available currently, but in the past, you could type a street address on yahoo maps, and pull up the persons name who lived there. If you left off the number, and entered just the street, it listed every house number on the street.

Google has just taken it to the next level incorporating it into the maps. Look for google map technology on all auto gps in the future, and you if you want to find all of the McDonald's on your 10 hour trip, it will highlight them with driving directions for you. Google maps will be the biggest advertising giant in the near future.

 

[DuneAHH]

BR,
I knew about some of the search tools (although I didn't know about the cell phone search you mention). I hadn't been aware of this particular "too easy" Google search; and the option to remove yourself from the list.

 

[DuneAHH]

I certainly see the benefits to businesses (Love knowing where all the McDonald's are!) but with all the kooks and online predators out there it's also scary that it's so easy to be located.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Terraserver has also been around for years, and the public once had free access to satellite images allowing you to zoom in close enough to recognize whose cars where in your driveway. Google is just making it easier with a one click. Anywho.com is a good source for reverse phone directory. They used to have the reverse address directory too, but I think they pulled it. I've seen phone books with reverse address directory in the back half of the book. They are just cataloging information that is already available to the public.

 

[Beach Runner]

...the option to remove yourself from the list.

You're right. I don't know how to remove my number from theultimates.com, for example.

 

[audie]

i find all this to be kinda scary - big brother really is watching, apparently..

 

[Biff]

http://zabbasearch.com/ is the one you should be worried about...