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Type Your Phone Number In Google Search
Go ahead.
From an MP3 Newsgroup:
> This is no joke. I just tried it with a friends phone number (mine is
> unlisted so it didn't work) and their name, address and a map to their
> house was openly available to anyone. Check out your phone numbers
> people, and follow directions to block the info.
>
>
>
> Google has implemented a new feature wherein you can type someone's
> telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and then you will
> be given a map to their house. Before forwarding this, I tested it by
> typing my telephone number in google.com. My phone number came up,
> and when I clicked on the MapQuest link, it actually mapped out where
> I live. Quite scary. Please look up your own number. Read below for
> details. Think about it--if a child, single person, ANYONE gives out
> his/her phone number someone can actually now look it up to find out
> where he/she lives. The safety issues are obvious, and alarming. This
> is not a hoax; Mapquest will put a star on your house on your street.
> In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to
> http://www.google.com/ Type your phone number in the search bar with
> dashes (i.e. 555-555-1212) (dashes & not spaces very important) and
> hit enter. This will divulge your name and address.
> You will see a link option to the right for Mapquest (click on it),
> which will use the address to provide a map to your home or place of
> business.
> If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information,
> simply click on the telephone icon next to your phone number then
> page down to "Phone Book" and hit "click here".
> I removed my name, but it takes 48-hours. If you are unlisted in the
> phone book, you might not be in there, but it is a good idea just to
> check.
> Please forward on to friends and family
This is nothing new and it's not just Google that provides the
service. There are tons of search services on the net that do the same
thing. I have been using telephone lookup services for years to find
people for my high school alumni association. It has been a valuable
tool in reuniting long lost friends and classmates.
Like any other modern convenience it can be used for good or evil and
it's just something we have to deal with.
From an MP3 Newsgroup:
> This is no joke. I just tried it with a friends phone number (mine is
> unlisted so it didn't work) and their name, address and a map to their
> house was openly available to anyone. Check out your phone numbers
> people, and follow directions to block the info.
>
>
>
> Google has implemented a new feature wherein you can type someone's
> telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and then you will
> be given a map to their house. Before forwarding this, I tested it by
> typing my telephone number in google.com. My phone number came up,
> and when I clicked on the MapQuest link, it actually mapped out where
> I live. Quite scary. Please look up your own number. Read below for
> details. Think about it--if a child, single person, ANYONE gives out
> his/her phone number someone can actually now look it up to find out
> where he/she lives. The safety issues are obvious, and alarming. This
> is not a hoax; Mapquest will put a star on your house on your street.
> In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to
> http://www.google.com/ Type your phone number in the search bar with
> dashes (i.e. 555-555-1212) (dashes & not spaces very important) and
> hit enter. This will divulge your name and address.
> You will see a link option to the right for Mapquest (click on it),
> which will use the address to provide a map to your home or place of
> business.
> If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information,
> simply click on the telephone icon next to your phone number then
> page down to "Phone Book" and hit "click here".
> I removed my name, but it takes 48-hours. If you are unlisted in the
> phone book, you might not be in there, but it is a good idea just to
> check.
> Please forward on to friends and family
This is nothing new and it's not just Google that provides the
service. There are tons of search services on the net that do the same
thing. I have been using telephone lookup services for years to find
people for my high school alumni association. It has been a valuable
tool in reuniting long lost friends and classmates.
Like any other modern convenience it can be used for good or evil and
it's just something we have to deal with.
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