This is nothing new, these criss-cross directories has been on the internet pretty much since the beginning of the net. Last time I 'checked' - the phone companies had a 2 year copyright on all the content, so odds are that most of the data is at least 2 years old.
Best way to avoid this problem? Don't get a land-line phone. Who needs it anyway? Get cable internet connection (going to be faster/cheaper than DSL anyway), and get a cell phone. If you still just *have* to have a phone at home, get a VoIP phone. Heck use BroadVoice - like 35 countries of unlimited calling for a whopping 25 bucks! And at least for the moment - you won't find yourself published in these criss-cross directories. Just another one of the zillion reasons I had so much fun the day I was able to call the phone company here and tell them to kiss my a** once and for all!
>I just became aware of this.
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>Google has implemented a new feature wherein you can type a telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and you will be given the person's name and address. If you then hit MapQuest, you will get a map to the person's house. Everyone should be aware of this!
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>Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. Before forwarding this, I tested it by typing my telephone number into google.com. My phone number 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.If a child gives out his/her phone number, someone can now look it up to find out where he/she lives. The safety issues are obvious, and alarming.
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>In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to:
Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e., 555-555-1212) and hit enter. If you want to B L O C K Google from divulging your private information, simply click on your telephone number and then click on the Removal Form. Removal takes 48-hours. If you are unlisted in the phone book, you might not be in there, but it is a good idea just to check. If your number does come up, if you hit map, it will show you a direct map to your house. Please share this information with your students, friends and family.
ICQ 10556 (ya), 254117