Google (an on-line internet search program) 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.
> >
> > 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 (an on-line internet map program) will actually put
> > a
> > star on your house on your street.
> >
> > In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to
> > <A HREF="http://www.google.com/">www.google.com</A> and type your
>phone
> > number in the search bar with dashes (for example: 305-858-5555)
> > and
> > hit enter.
> >
> > NOTE: If your phone number is not publicly listed, you should be
> > fine.
> > If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private
> > information,
> > simply click on the telephone icon next to your phone number. You
> > will
> > see a link where you are allowed to REMOVE yourself (which takes up
> > to
> > 48 hours). Feel free to forward on to friends and family.
> >
> >
>

bigdog:

This is actually very useful and valuable information. Google is not the only search engine that can do that. Switchboard has a reverse lookup system as well, and links to MapQuest. Others include AnyWho, WhitePages, QwestDex, among a few.

If you do not want somebody finding you, guard your personal information.

Thank you for the "heads up", bigdog.

Good info, bigdog, thanks.

I have 2 land lines that are unlisted and a cellphone, so this is one less security concern for me personally. But I do intend on sharing this info with friends and family.

I spent an entire afternoon a year ago searching for and removing my home address from several search engine sites, yet some "pay" search companies still show it. I think that the utility companies are selling the address info because of the way my name is shown (first initial, middle name, last name and suffix) which is different from tax, voter, phone and internet accounts, which have my full first name.

our names are backwards in a way , but anyone really looking 4 me boo , could prolly find us ,

thank god for the rotts lol,

Uh, I can't get past the cut/paste thing. No variation works. *sniff*