A security tip for you all

nwcs

You may not realize this but google has a new feature. If you put in a person's phone number it will give you the option to view a yahoo or mapquest map to the address registered for the phone number. You can also get info based on it. Everyone is opted in by default but you are able to opt out. To do this, type in your phone number in standard form: 123-456-7890 and then click on the entry that comes up. Then click on the removal link and follow the instructions.

Just imagine an ebay buyer who gets your seller info (including phone number), looks up your map and pays you a visit someday.

Jdurg

I just tried that and mine didn't come up with anything. In fact, any personal non-business phone number that I tried came up as 'no matches found'.

nwcs

It won't have unlisted numbers as I understand it but it had a lot of the people I know in it.

Sphinx357

not if you're not listed in the phonebook

mrearlygold

Jeez that's scary if it does it all the time!


Tom

F117ASR

Just had myself removed. It says it need 48hrs. Thanx for the tip!

oreville

Thanks to you too!

I removed also!

mrearlygold

Thanks for the tip! It's outrageous what they are doing.

Tom

LeeG

My current phone number is listed for someone else with a different address? Just sold my home in Virginia Beach and removed that info. Great Tip!!! Appreciate It!!!! Lee

TommyType

Yeah....they aren't very accurate. I'm not listed under my current area code, but I am listed under my OLD area code.

I may have to go with an unlisted number. The only reason I haven't done it in the past is that the phone companies actually CHARGE you to be unlisted! What a scam.

K6AZ

That might work for Google, but people can still get your address from any one of several online reverse directories. Get an unlisted number if you are concerned about it.

slothman2000

If you think that is scary...go here to this..someone sent me this and I said what a joke until I thought about it for a moment....
Pizza Call

etexmike

Just submitted the form to have my number removed.

Thanks for the tip.

-----------

etexmike

Neptune

so you just type your phone number into the 'regular' google search box? I did that and it came up a sun tanning salon. Guess they went OOB. I'm UL BTW.

mrearlygold

<< <i>If you think that is scary...go here to this..someone sent me this and I said what a joke until I thought about it for a moment....
Pizza Call >>







Slothman, that pizza delivery should be shown to as many people as possible.


Tom

kieferscoins

<< <i>That might work for Google, but people can still get your address from any one of several online reverse directories. Get an unlisted number if you are concerned about it. >>



He is right. There are a bunch more directories then Google.

Cameron Kiefer

slothman2000

Yes, I don't like the idea of calling somewhere and they automatically have your address in there system...I'd rather just tell them...

RickMilauskas

Thanks for the info Tennessee!!

ldhair

<< <i>

<< <i>That might work for Google, but people can still get your address from any one of several online reverse directories. Get an unlisted number if you are concerned about it. >>



He is right. There are a bunch more directories then Google.

Cameron Kiefer >>


Sad but true.

nwcs

Yeah, they've been around for years (like four11 and bigfoot) but every little bit helps and awareness is the first step.

BTW, I hate the ACLU. But the government's use of personal information cannot realistically ever be stopped and neither can commercial use. However there are ways of making it harder and less profitable.

K6AZ

Ever ordered your three bureau credit report? They make the government look lame in comparison.

By the way, that feature has been on Google since late 2002, and probably earlier than that.

flaminio

Welcome to three years ago, folks

K6AZ

<< <i>Welcome to three years ago, folks >>



Bob, you've just been thread-sniped.

flaminio

<< <i>Bob, you've just been thread-sniped. >>

D'OH!!!

nwcs

<< <i>Ever ordered your three bureau credit report? They make the government look lame in comparison.

By the way, that feature has been on Google since late 2002, and probably earlier than that. >>

One of the programs I wrote at work processes credit reports from TransUnion and evaluates a person's credit history in 1 second for loans. Let's just say I'm one of the few people out there who actually understands what all the codes mean. And you're right, they are far more comprehensive than people realize.

Yeah, the feature has been out there before in various forms but it's never too late to let people know.

K6AZ

Neil, those codes are no secret and are posted on a dozen websites. The internet can be a pain sometime, but for stuff like this it is wonderful. It was because of information over the internet that finally caused Fair Issac to finally come clean with their scoring.

nwcs

Yeah, but most people don't look up the codes. Interesting note, transunion has over 40 models for calculating scores. They also have a number of risk assessment models. Both of those are only for commercial use, though. People generally can only get a FICA for score and don't know their risk assessment.

Oh well, strayed from the topic. I guess I think of this like Dorkkarl thinks of AT: education is the key.

K6AZ

Neil, when you have a couple hours, do some careful searching in your favorite search engine. Just about every creditor's scoring model is posted on the internet. The dirty little secret is out, and has been out for some time.

mrearlygold

ddink

Welcome to the Internet.

What is the "Internet?" It's the ability to have an inconceivably vast amount of information accessible instantly. It's a wonderful and amazing thing, but a little scary too. Be sure and remove your number from Whitepages.com and the dozens of other directories out there.

P.S. Do ya'll realize that if you send someone an email, that person can pinpoint your home to within a few miles? All they have to do is look at the IP address on your email, type it into an Internet page and get your Lat & Long., then type that into mapquest. Of course, if you use a proxy server, people will think you live in Denmark or something!

P.P.S. I know someone who used this Google feature to return someone's lost dog to them (had the phone number on the tag but not the address and they weren't answering the phone). Like anything, it's *how* it's used that counts.

newport

thanks for the tip- I just removed mine also....thanks

hamiltonjh

I got a NO MATCHES FOUND also, but thanks for the tip!!

I'll check periodically just to "be sure"

nwcs

ttt - one last bump for the mid morning crowd