Reader, Chuck, wrote in and asked our opinion about this "new" feature from Google, which isn't new and isn't limited to Google. In fact, the feature has been around since the phone book was invented. Here's how the too frequently forwarded email starts:
"Google has implemented a new feature which enables you to 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! It's a nationwide reverse telephone book.
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.
Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. I tried my number and it came up along with the map and directions straight to our house. I did fill out the removal form for myself, and encourage all of you to do the same.
In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to Google at www.google.com, type your phone number in the search bar (e.g. 555-555-1212) and press enter. If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information, simply click on your telephone number and then click on the Removal Form. Removal takes 48-hours.
Please share this information with friends and family."
First off let me start by saying that ANY email that ends "please share this information with everyone you know" is a BOGUS email. Hit the delete button immediately.
Now, to the heart of this email. Reverse phone book lookup is NOT new to Google, it is NOT unique to Google, and it is NOT even unique to the Internet age. YES, you can enter a phone number into Google (or any good search engine) and then get the name of the person who pays the bill for that number, and their address with a link to a map of that address. All this information is available IF the phone number is not an unlisted one and IF it is a land based phone. There currently is no cellular phone book.
Almost all communities have had reverse phone number lookup capabilities since phone books have been published. And almost every phone book that I know of has an indexed map of the area in it as well. So, although it took longer, anyone could perform (and still can perform) the same function with almost any phone book. The Internet just gives us access to every phone book in the world.
It is also TRUE that once you find your name via your phone number on Google, a link is presented to you offering to have your name removed from the list…trouble is that there are literally hundreds of reverse phone number lookup sites. The only way you can get your name and number removed from these sites is to have your phone number unlisted through your phone company (and they charge $5-10 per month for that service) OR switch your phone service to cellular only.
Our information has never been private and will never be private unless we make it so.
I'll let YOU decide whether or not this article is meaningful enough for you to pass on to ALL your friends, family, and co-workers.
