[Vision2020] New "Feature" in Google(privacy alert)

[Tim Lohrmann]

I'm sure you're right.
It's just that Google is so widely used and this is a
lot simpler than any of the other methods you
mentioned.
Also, if I understand what you wrote below, you're
incorrect. Even if your address is NOT listed by the
company in the book, the GOOGLE search will allow
anyone to find it anyway with just the phone number.
It gives you the address which is served by the phone
number regardless of your wishes about having it
published in the book.
For example, many women who have a first initial and
no address in the book as a security/privacy safeguard
can have their address given out and not only that, a
map on how to find their house/apt. with just about
three clicks. 
It's true that you can find anything about anybody
with a little effort and knowledge. It's just that
with the GOOGLE search thingy it requires almost no
knowledge or effort. 
So, I thought some folks might want to opt out of the
Google database. It's not a big deal really, just a
thought. 
TL

--- TEX <tex@kuoi.asui.uidaho.edu> wrote:
> 
> I'm not certain what, if any, unique threat to your
> privacy you believe
> this represents.  This "feature" is nothing unique
> to Google in any way.
> The only way a map to your residence/business/etc is
> going to be available
> is if your address is listed by the phone company. 
> If your address is
> listed by the phone company, there are a million
> ways for someone to
> obtain it.  http://www.qwestdex.com/cgi/search.fcg?
> http://www.anywho.com (with reverse lookup
> capabilities on a tab across
> the top)  etc, etc, etc.  There is no information to
> be gained from google
> that you couldn't get from a phone book and a Rand
> McNally.
> 
> Tex
> tex@kuoi.asui.uidaho.edu
> 
> On Thu, 3 Apr 2003, Tim Lohrmann wrote:
> 
> >
> > > It's true.  I checked it out with my phone
> number.
> > > You might
> > > want to remove
> > > >yours...
> >
> > > >Subject: New "Feature" in Google
> > > >
> > > >There is a new feature in Google that makes it
> > > possible to type
> > > a telephone
> > > >number into Google's search bar, click the
> search
> > > button, and
> > > have a Yahoo!
> > > >Maps or MapQuest page returned as a result. Any
> > > person wishing
> > > to discover
> > > >the physical location of a phone number, be it
> a
> > > home or business
> > > address,
> > > >can use this feature to locate a physical
> street
> > > address, and
> > > receive
> > > >explicit directions on how to get there from
> > > anywhere in the
> > > country. One
> > > >positive use of this feature could be to
> determine
> > > the location
> > > of, say, a
> > > >party for whom you may only have a telephone
> > > number. On a negative
> > > note,
> > > >this feature could also be used by an angry
> party
> > > to find out
> > > where you
> > > >live.
> > > >
> > > >Fortunately, 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., 555-123-4567). If
> the
> > > number appears
> > > in the
> > > >mapping database, an icon resembling a
> telephone
> > > will appear
> > > next to the
> > > >first or second entry on the result page.
> Clicking
> > > on this icon
> > > will take
> > > >you to a page containing a description of the
> > > service, with
> > > a link to
> > > >request your number be removed from the
> database.
> > > >
> > > >Many people are unaware of this potential
> danger.
> > > Go to
> > > >"http://www.google.com/ " then type in your
> phone
> > > number to
> > > check it out.
> >
> >
> >
>
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