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Steve Brooks Founder / Manager Northern California - United States 3780 Posts |
--------oOGoogle Telephone SearchOo--------
The Google search engine 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. I tested it by typing a telephone number in Google.com The phone number came up, and when I clicked on the MapQuest link, it actually mapped out where the person lives. 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 Google.com, type your phone number in the search bar with dashes (i.e.555-555-1212) (dashes and 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. 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. Obviously there are other sources that folks can use to find out information about you (i.e. Anywho.com, Switchboard.com, Whitepages.com, Phonenumber.com, etc.), but at least removing your information from Google provides one less source. Thought folks might like to know this, hope this helps.
"Always be you because nobody else can" - Steve Brooks
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DrDale New user 60 Posts |
Wow Steve,
I spend my days as a security consultant and this is incredibly troubling, THanks alot for pointing it out |
Magix Elite user 432 Posts |
Thanks Steve,
I sent this info to friends and family. |
Chris Berry Special user 831 Posts |
Steve, thanks so much! I will let people know about this!
Chris |
Jeff J. Special user Connecticut 787 Posts |
I got the star at my house. That's the last time I ever give my phone # out !
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El_Lamo Special user Canada 589 Posts |
Guys,
This has been possible for at least five years. There are websites called reverse phone look-ups. If you type in a phone number, they give you the name and address. Then there are sites that if you type in an address, they show you a map. All google has done is combine the two. They have made a two step process, a one-step. (But people have been able to do this for years.) Cheers - El Lamo
Life is a system of circumstance presented coincidently in an illusory way.
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Reis O'Brien Inner circle Seattle, WA 2467 Posts |
Eek. I'm glad all I have is a cellphone.
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Johnnymysto Regular user South Carolina 116 Posts |
This is something that anyone could do by visiting 2 or 3 websites. If you know someone's name, you can find out their address, then map it on mapquest. Presumably, you're not going to look up someone with an anonymous number. But, I agree that the power of the Net is getting eerily stronger....
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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Steve,
Thanks for the information and details on removing our information from the search engine. I was not happy to see how easy it was to retrieve a map leading to my front door with the use of my telephone alone! Not happy at all. I certainly have nothing to hide but don't care for anyone to know my address unless I've given it to them and expect them to visit. Just the principle I guess. Not knowing the other guys motive, the ease with which such information is had is frightening! I gladly removed my information and had friends/family do the same. |
Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
This has been a feature on Google for quite a while now and I myself find it quite useful for looking up locations of upcoming performances.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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