Try typing your phone number in the Google search machine and see what pops up...it may be your address and a map to your house. I wonder how this relates to their privacy notice...seems as if they are a stalker's delight. That means one of those creeps that make random phone calls can now turn up on your doorsteps if they happen to hear a female voice. Maybe I sound extremist, but we live in a nasty world. Anyway, this was news to me. And very unhappy news at that.

By the way, I tried it and my mother's address popped up...so this isn't me spreading an urban legend.

Had to try this, but it didn't work for me. Maybe only for US numbers? It may not be too sinister, of course. For quite a lot of web pages (particularly when buying something, or registering something) you have to enter a phone number. Bad security on someone's part perhaps, but not necessarily a conspiracy. Anyway, not good news, I agree.

Attached Link: Office of the California Attorney General

I don't think it will do any good, but I've filed a complaint with the Office of the California Attorney General. If you care to add your voice to mine, the information you need about Google is: Google Headquarters 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043 phone: 650-623-4000 fax: 650-618-1499 Someone tells me unlisted and cell phone addresses don't show up, but don't feel too comforted by that. I would suspect it's only a matter of time.

My mother doesn't have a web page. I suspect they have downloaded U.S. telephone directories in the vast storage bin that is Google. After that, it was just a matter of linkages. And don't be too comfortable...I imagine other directories of information are soon to follow. I don't think it is sinister on the part of Google...I just think it is irresponsible of them to make it even easier for the sickos of this world to track down someone is vulnerable. You don't have to be upset if you want to think it's all okay. I'm upset enough for the entire community.

By the way, I think it is telephone directories because of the entry that is shown when I type in my mother's phone number. That particular entry would not be something I have ever typed into a web page for information .... and my mother has never used the Internet.

No, no - I don't think it's all okay, as I said I think it's not good news. I agree it's irresponsible and/or bad security. I don't know how it is in the US but in the UK there's no facility to reverse-lookup a phone number (i.e. get the address from a number). I think it's even illegal to provide such a service, but I could be wrong. One of the otherwise rare examples perhaps where the greater freedom of information in the US (which I'm strongly in favour of) works against the citizen.

We have reverse directories here, but finding a phone number that way has been a pretty manual process. This just is a wonderful automation device, if there were no crooks in the world. Unfortunately, we all know that identity theft is very easy, and this is just one more tool for the bad guys. It's very disheartening.

Attached Link: http://www.google.com/help/pbremoval.html

I don't know if this works or not, but you can give it a try if you find your phone number is there.

Okay, only Verizon has authorization to my information... DO they honestly think that Harvesting is legal? "Our phone and address listings are gathered by a third party provider, which collects telephone directories and other public records available elsewhere on the web. If you would like to have your telephone number completely unlisted (including from your local phone book), contact your local phone company and request to be both unlisted and unpublished." Excuse me, but I'm not paying extra to have my phone number unlisted.

This is very old news....This came up years back & at that time there was way to get it off, which I did post haste. I just tried again to be sure & it came back no match found & we don't have an unlisted number. Wish I could remember what I did..but I can't :(

Sorry...it was the first I had heard of it (or I knew about it and forgot...that's an inconvenience of age). I have posted the way to get off of it (#9 above). It appears that the people I know (friends) were not aware of it so I shared it here thinking there might be others similarly uninformed. I still thinks it is a poor idea. New or old.

Yep, mine is there, but it's in the phone book and reverse directory too, and everybody in town already knows where I live. I understand people want privacy, but why should we be afraid to have anybody know where we live? I can see that would be the case in the extremely unlikely event that we were being stalked, or on the Fed's witness protection plan. But just for regular citizens like us, there's nothing to fear, and there's no need to hide, as far as I know. Even with all the unlisted numbers, a.k.a.s, aliases, disguises and mail drops a guy could think of, there's no way to hide that really works.

It's not just your name and address. When I typed in my number I was redirected to the harvester's home page which offered to provide the names and phone numbers of all my neighbors, relatives, and "known associates" - I suppose they mean friends, though how the heck they could know who my friends are I can't begin to imagine. All of this was available for a fee along with all types of personal background information. I can't believe that this is legal! Well, at least I know now where the phone company that's trying to slam me is getting it's info. I find this scary as heck!

No need to apologize Dialyn...Didn't mean in it a demeaning/hostile manner.....I just heard of it years ago.

Attached Link: http://411.com/

411.com has a reverse lookup, and more.

I'm not showing up... which is good (unlisted number).

Attached Link: http://www.whitepages.com/

Yup, I always have an unlisted number. I have for years. I think it's a pretty basic privacy thing, personally.

I suspect they have downloaded U.S. telephone directories in the vast storage bin that is Google.

Errr.... http://www.whitepages.com/ ?

bonni

Message edited on: 02/07/2005 21:14

Thanks dialyn, I checked it and the names come up just as they are in the local phone book, so most likely they used a reversed or Bressar's directory. When I was on jury duty for a case involving harassment, I learned that these jerks don't randomly pick out phone numbers, but look for female names in the phone book. So if your name is Susan Ann Smith, have your phone listed under S A Smith. SWAMP

http://freeality.com/finde.htm

reverse lookup for everything and links for further reverse lookups

just like any tool, can be used for good or bad purposes

wlecome to information overload

Message edited on: 02/08/2005 01:03

Message edited on: 02/08/2005 01:04

Info disk in the UK - sometimes given away free as
cover disks does phone numbers as well as addresses.

Theres a "pro" version for companys who are willing to pay so much per search or for blocks of searchs. If the stuff isn't on CD it can online and search. These can link into our electoral register and if you have the right contract the 3 big credit reference agencys here.

That's not the scary things. The 1st scary thing is anyone can buy into this. They say it's only avalable to companys, but you can set up a company for around 100 in a few days.

The 2nd and more scary thing was I originally saw on it a unsecured computer in a taxi office. The drivers used to find info about people when they where bored.

Message edited on: 02/08/2005 14:28

Mine is there as well, but again I do web design and my phone and mailing address are on my pages and advertising pages. I am glad now though that I have a PO box rather then house delivery.

Google is trying out a new map feature, too. It is in beta? Anyway, it was reviewed, and the reviewer mentioned a bit of unease with the possibility of stalkers.

This feature has been available on most portals for years, more commonly called "People Finders" or "People Search". If your number is published, it's freely available to anyone. You don't even need a number, just a name. Go into People Search on Yahoo. Type in your name. Go into advanced. Click search. There you will find your name, even your age. I can pay $50 and get every piece of information on you if I know your name and city. We live in an information society, there is very little you can do to hide. Your personal information is available to anyone who seeks it.

@Natolii: "DO they honestly think that Harvesting is legal?" Yes, it's completely legal. It falls under the Freedom of Information Act. "Excuse me, but I'm not paying extra to have my phone number unlisted." Yes, you must pay extra, at least with most providers, to omit your number. However, as I posted above, all one needs is your name and a few bucks and he or she will have up to ten years or more of your life's personal and financial history e-mailed to them...everything.

If your number is published That's the key, right there. The small extra fee to keep your number private is well worth it if you actually value your privacy. bonni

*"Even with all the unlisted numbers, a.k.a.s, aliases, disguises and mail drops a guy could think of, there's no way to hide that really works."*Yep, unfortunately.

Even more unfortunate is that ultimately it will be next to impossible (hell, it already is for the most part) to obtain YOUR OWN INFO. I mean, why in the HELL should we ever have to pay to get our own credit reports, for example? (which thankfully has taken a recent turn for the better)

Yet anyone else can get detailed info - including your social security number - about you under the guise of conducting business, and with nothing more than a bit of cash.

It's all very scary. Because our justice system refuses to actually punish criminals, Orwellian measures are imposed for "our protection". Don't even get me started on where RFID is going...

Attached Link: http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/15/technology/identity_theft.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

And sometimes they just steal it. ChoicePoint, one of the lovely firms that compiles all sorts of personal info on all Americans had data stolen electronically by thieves. From CNN "Thieves steal consumer info database Personal info compiled by ChoicePoint stolen, including Social Security numbers; thousands affected. February 15, 2005: 6:51 PM EST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of U.S. consumers face a greater risk of identity theft after criminals gained access to a database of personal records compiled by ChoicePoint Inc., a company spokesman said Tuesday.... " About the only reason this is coming to light is California law forces ChoicePoint and other companies to notify consumers if there is a security breach. If you're in any other state, though, you're out of luck - they need not notify you that your personal info has been stolen. Nice, huh?

Also..in case you were not aware; if you have your own domain name, your information is automatically listed in the whois directory. I don't think there is any way to get that changed.

Some registars allow you to hide your information from the general public for a fee. Personally, I've always just used a work address, either my own or, as for the domains I have now, a relatives. My current registration information is my brother-in-law's place of employment, which coincidentally happens to be a law firm specializing in copyright and IP law. :-) People are welcome to contact me there, or stalk me to their law offices.... ;-) bonni

Yeah..security systems by Glock tend to be a pretty good deterrent too >^_~

Gee... maybe I should have a picture of an attack cat on my website? My own is too sweet, but my neighbor's cat is a fierce huntress and a half-eaten rat ought to provide sufficient warning that bilge-dwellers aren't appreciated.

It is disturbing how easy it is find someone if you know their number. I show right up. >:o/