Number 242 - July 2003

Privacy Issues
by Gerry Ching, Santa Barbara PCUG
Our user group belongs to an informal organization of southern California computer user groups (SCRUGS). An alert was sent out by coordinator Judy Taylour. The information is said to come from Deputy Pat Rissler of the LA Sheriffs Department via Charlie Semple, LACS.    There is a new feature in GOOGLE that makes it possible to type a telephone number into Google's 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 use this feature to locate a physical street address, and 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, say, a party for whom you may only have a telephone number. On a negative note, this feature could also be used by an angry party to find out where you live.    Google has made available an option that will allow anyone to remove their 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 attempting a search - entering your full telephone number separated by dashes (e.g., 404-524-5811). If the number appears in the mapping database, an icon resembling a telephone will appear next to the first or second entry on the results page. 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.	Many people are unaware of this danger. If you don't want any "Tom, Dick, or Harry" having a direct map (and the map IS perfect) to your house just by having your phone number, go to http://www.google.com/ then type in your phone number. See how accurate the map is, linked to your phone number AND YES IT WORKS.    Note: The Google feature does return a street address on the results screen, but only a physical location on the map. But this is close enough for practical purposes. Also, I have found some instances where the mapped location is incorrect. I suspect that this information is taken from phone company records, and probably not updated frequently. And, from Judy's daughter, Stacey:    Starting March 31, 2003, Californians can pre-register their home and cellular phone numbers on the national do-not-call list to block unwanted telemarketing phone calls. To pre-register for the national do-not-call list, visit the state attorney general's website at: http://nocall.doj.state.ca.us/    The law goes into effect on October 1, 2003 but you can get your name & number on the list now by clicking on the website above.    This is a welcome law, because you now have recourse for these bothersome telemarketing calls. But remember, this low-tech approach also works well. Use an answering machine to screen your calls. Most telemarketing callers will hang-up if they get an answering machine.
Number 242 - July 2003