Serious Not Cool Google Security Issue

[Stephen]

It seems they have all listed phone numbers set with Mapquest. If you Google your phone number, you can get a map right to your house. Try it...its pretty scary stuff. To remove your number, when you google it...the top result will say "Phonebook results for 000-000-000" Click that, it should take you to a form to remove your number. Tell everyone you know about this. Talk about an invasion of privacy.

[Debitt]

I tried that once. The map directs people to a golf course 5 minutes away from my house.

[agasfas]

Those jerks.... Think I'll remove it.. but to remove it you must enter your phone # again... *wonders if they'll put him on a soliciting list.*

[Stephen]

I don't think so. But does it really matter? They clearly already have your number...so if they want to sell it they can..and theres nothing you can do about it. The important thing is that people can't get a map to your house...

[Slater]

hahaha, I put in my number and they gave a street about 3 miles away and the name "Glenn J Dickson"

[Stephen]

Its funny...some people its wrong on..others its dead on. I still think its horrible that they put peoples info online like this though...

[Slater]

yeah, I just tried it with my friend and gf... got them dead on.

[enishi]

gah, scary! i bet stalkers go nuts with crap like that. thanks for the heads up shatterheart.

[Jasdero]

O_O this. is. gross.

[glitch1501]

i think they have been able to do this for a while, funny thing is that my dad removed us from the list a while ago, but now we are back on, with the wrong address

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Its times like these that its good to be an Aussie!

[termyt]

Wow, that is impressive, scary, cool, and creepy all at the same time.

[shooraijin]

Fortunately, unlisted numbers don't get in there (and mine was unlisted from the beginning).

[daveedo]

ah well at least unlisted numbers don't get in there. I think my parent's phone number is not an unlisted number so it actually worked for me O_o heh this is just another reason you should get your number unlisted

[Mangafanatic]

My dad took us off of that ages ago, but I remember he was pretty upset about it.

[kaji]

i think they have been able to do this for a while

Yep, you sure have been able to do this for some time. But really, what is the difference?

I look your name up in a phone book, get your address, and plug it into mapquest… Tada!!! And I didn’t even have to know your phone number.

Your address is no more available to the public now then it was 10 years ago. Its just quicker to get to. But if some crazy person was trying to find you, Im sure they wouldn’t have just stopped when their Google search came back empty handed…

You know, if your town has a record on you; that is also considered public knowledge (unless you are currently being charged with any sort of criminal activity). If I wanted to, I could go to my city offices, and take a look at any ones file in my town. Of course I would have to fill out a little paper work to do so, but it’s available to any one who wants to see it.

The point is, with or without the internet, if you really want to find out anything about almost anyone, you can (exceptions being government officials). So there is really no need to get extra paranoid about this.

-kaji

[Ashley]

But really, what is the difference?

My number being listed in my local phone book is a LOT different than letting someone---ANYONE---have a map directly to my house. I mean, considering the town I live in...it would be a real stretch for anyone here to be stalked from our local phonebook. But who's to say some pissed-off psycho gets mad at me for whatever reason and decides to come find my house? Totally different story.

I had my parents' names both removed, and we were all a little upset about it. But by the way, since we're talking about internet security, I heard on the news the other day the #1 way to get your identity stolen is still by throwing away your bank statements, credit card statements, reciepts, etc. Shred that stuff up first.

[Syaoran]

It dose not work for me all I get is my moms web site http://seatoskyzine.com/

[TheMelodyMaker]

A search for my number turned up absolutely nothing... O_o Maybe it doesn't work for Canada. *shrug* (Or maybe I don't actually exist. )

[Lehn]

Oh gosh.....

It was dead on.

WheretheheckdidIputthatbaseballbat???

[soul alive]

it was dead on for my family, as well as for one of my neighbors. but since we live 20+ miles out of town , on a gravel road that no one who doesn't live near there knows of, i think we're pretty safe (especially since the map only shows the gravel road, not how to get to it from the highway )... but i still had our number and the neighbor's removed.

[mitsuki lover]

We have two seperate phone numbers.One for the ranch and one for the house in town.
Just thinking about this is scary.We get enough crank calls as it is!

[Golden_Griff]

Its funny...some people its wrong on..others its dead on. I still think its horrible that they put peoples info online like this though...

WHAT THE @#$%?!!

This is an outrage!

I typed in my phone # and it had everything! Point blank period! Got my business all over the web! I live in a very small community and they have the directions right on the point!

Thanks a lot, Google you scumbags I'm quite sure people appreciate you giving out their information to everyone and their mama.

Gosh, people are always making things easier for the criminal!

Think about those poor naive kids who talk to these 46 year old you-know-whats and giving their phone numbers and stuff so they can "call each other!"

GRRRRRRRRR! IS NOTHING SACRED??!

*throws a tantrum*

[The Doctor]

Interesting...Google can find a phone number, BUT NOT AN ALL IMPORTANT 28 PAGE MEMO ON FILMMAKING!!!!

GRRR!!!!

Oh well, at least my phone number isn't there. I tried. (Shatterheart, my guess is that so many people know you're a member of the right wing conspiracy, that the left wing is now making your info public on the web, so as to place you in danger. Worry not though, for I have dispatched my organization, the right wing "Band of Brothers", to "discourage" any future actions like this. :-) )

[Nate]

I agree with kaji on this one. If someone wants to find you because they're a psycho stalker, they're going to find you, google or not.

BESIDES...

I don't see anyone jumping up and making a big deal about whitepages.com. I can type in your name on that site and get your number AND address, then go to Mapquest and get a map to your house. So what's the big deal if google gives you a map for a phone number?

Not like phone books don't have addressess too. [/sarcasm]

Whatever.

[FadedOne]

ok..so for some reason, this didn't work for me....and our number isn't unlisted o.o

Not that i'm complaining.

[ShiroiHikari]

The point is, with or without the internet, if you really want to find out anything about almost anyone, you can (exceptions being government officials). So there is really no need to get extra paranoid about this.

agreed.

I really don't care if people can find my address or whatever. you can't actually look ME up anyway because I don't have a phone in my name. and you have been able to do this for years with the phonebook sites and stuff.

[blkmage]

and you have been able to do this for years with the phonebook sites and stuff.

Exactly. It just takes a step or two more than it does with Google.
And Google does this only for US listings so far, so if you're outside, there's no need to worry, if you're that type of person who worries about this stuff.
At least Google isn't evil.

[Jman]

Thats Ridiculas...someone should file a lawsuit....

[Shao Feng-Li]

I tried it but got nothing. Is there a certain way one needs to write it?