personal security concerns - please read.

[AZhitman]

I'm not sure if anyone here is aware, but I was just alerted to something you may want to take note of.

Google (one of the most popular internet search engines) has recently added a feature to their service that makes it possible to type a telephone number into their search bar, click the search button, and have a 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, could 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 any party for whom you may only have a phone number.

On a negative note, this feature could also be used by an angry party to find out where you live. Google has an option to remove your 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 going to http://www.google.com, and enter your full telephone number separated by dashes (example: 202-555-1212). If the number appears in the mapping database, an icon resembling a telephone will appear. Clicking on this icon will take you to a page containing a description of the service, and a link to request your number be removed from the database.

It's a little frightening how accurate the maps are and how much information is so readily available, given something as simple as your home phone number - Please share this with family and friends.

If you were already aware of this info, sorry for the bother...

- Greg

[Anand]

thanx for the info.. my house was on there and I removed it... I kind of didn't mind it but then again with some of the crazy peoples out there.... you never know..

[Repo Man]

Heh, that kind of info is already out there and has been for a while. There are skiptrace progams that will give more info than that, but are not as easily accessible. Whitepages.com has a reverse phone lookup that will give back the address when a phone number is entered and I think they have a mapping feature as well. Nonetheless, you could take that address and enter into mapblast or mapquest or any mapping site and get a map.

Stop giving away skiptrace secrets dammit! :-)

[Cold_Zero]

Many online white/yellow pages sites have "reverse searches" for telephone numbers. What is scary is when I am at work and a person's loan comes up on my system that I know.

[MaineExport]

Thanks Hitman... that's good to know! And it also gives me a few ideas.... hmmmm

[lessthanjakejohn]

mine is on there as the wrong address, haha

thanks though that will scare the **** out of my friends

[MaineExport]

hey, lessthanjakejohn, what's the deal with your screen name?

I'm sure it must have something to do with the band Less Than Jake... matter of fact they are playing around here soon. Not sure when or where, but the show has been advertised on the radio a lot lately. So, what's with the name, are you a big fan?

[lessthanjakejohn]

Ya I like them, haha started listening when i was young, made a screenname, kept it ever since, I still like LTJ... In fact i'm the only one in my school who has ever heard of them

[slw240sx]

i bet im more punk then you!