Protect Your Privacy: How to Block Your Phone Number from Google Search Results

[krzymomof4]

Thought you all might find this interesting.

This is hard to believe, but TRUE !!! So please read !!!!



Everyone should be aware of this!


Google.com has implemented a new feature wherein you can type
someone's
telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and then you will
be given a map to their house.

Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked.

Before forwarding this, I tested it by typing my telephone number in
google.com. My address came up, and when I clicked on the MapQuest
link, it actually mapped out where I live. Quite scary.

Please look up your own number.


Read below for details.

Think about it--if a child, ANYONE gives out his/her phone number,
someone
can actually now look it up to find out where he/she lives. The
safety issues are obvious, alarming, and many!

In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to:
http://www.google.com/

Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e. 555-555-1212) and hit
enter.

If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information,
simply click on phonebook results link above your phone number and
scroll down. I removed my name, but it takes 48-hours.

NOTE: If you are unlisted in the phone book, you might not be in
there,
but it is a good idea just to check. Guarantee that your work phone
number is in there if you've given it out to anyone commercially. If
your home number does come up if you hit map, it will show you a
direct map to your house.

You might want to pass this on to friends and family

 

[jenniferknapp]

You can do a reverse lookup through a lot of online search engines, and get the address right there.... then just type that in to mapquest and see the same thing. Check out 411.com and zabasearch.com for 2 examples.

 

[pamperedtraci]

Also whitepages.com and peoplesearch.com

 

[krzymomof4]

I didn't mind the fact that you can mapquest my address. I give my address to people for that reason. I was uncomfortable with the fact that if they only have your telephone number they can get access to your address from far away. I guess I just get a little creeped out because of the dateline stories and having 4 children that don't seem to get the concept of "everybody doesn't need to know your whole life story"

 

[jenniferknapp]

It is scary... but on all of these pages you can do a reverse lookup from just your phone number and get your address.You might want to think about not listing your phone number in the phone book....I believe that it will not show up on these sites if it is set to private. Another thought is to go to Vonage. Your phone number will not be listed anywhere, because it doesn't relate back to your address (except for 911 calls) since you can plug it in anywhere that has a broadband service. If you want more info, I have it, and could sign you up as a referral.

 

[Rebeccascabinet]

We have vonage and it does map out on google. We've known about the google thing for a while and unfortunately having vonage didn't help.

 

[jenniferknapp]

We have vonage and it does map out on google. We've known about the google thing for a while and unfortunately having vonage didn't help.

Interesting, mine does not show up when I look it up...Just a thought, is your number listed in the phonebook?

 

[Rebeccascabinet]

I think it is.

 

[jrstephens]

I think people that really want to find this information will pretty much get it no matter what.

If your Revenue Office for your land taxes is on the internet, they can look up the location of your house there too.

 

[pkd09]

My phone number is unlisted so when I did it the number/location came back to the prior individual who had my phone number. OK with me!!!!!

 

[pamperedlinda]

My phone number is unlisted so when I did it the number/location came back to the prior individual who had my phone number. OK with me!!!!!

mine too, I've had this number for 4 years and I get calls for him all the time.

 

[whiteyteresa]

I checked my phone number and it gives my old address (we moved almost 5 months ago) and then when the map pops up - they have our old house in the wrong area of where we lived.

 

[ivykeep]

Taking it off of google won't help for lots of reasons -- as mentioned above there are lots of other sites that do reverse look up and google and most other search engines also have a cached feature so if it was EVER in google, you can still look at the cache.

Our home phone is unlisted (and I use my cell phone for Pampered Chef), but in my county all the land records are on-line and searchable so all anyone has to know is my last name and they can find out exactly where I live, how much my property taxes are and how much I paid for my house.

 

[jrstephens]

but in my county all the land records are on-line and searchable so all anyone has to know is my last name and they can find out exactly where I live, how much my property taxes are and how much I paid for my house.

Our minds think a like b/c I had previously posted this b/c our county does this too.

 

[etteluap70PC]

This is exactly why I do not have my home # or street adress on any of my catalogs or info I hand out.

I Got my Cell Phone # specifically for business. It's a write off and I feel more secure in many ways.

 

[cla519]

It didn't come up with my number and it's a listed number. Who knows?