Hello tbudl'ers and the other TB! lists, Sorry for the cross-post, but I feel it is VERY important to get the word out on this.
I received a very ominous message today from another mailing list. I have enclosed it in its entirety below. Read it and weep! Please note that the MapQuest return for the listing even includes an aerial PHOTO of your home or business location!! -~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~= -~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~= Take a look at the note below - if you go to www.google.com and type in your telephone number it will actually pull up directions to your house - there is a way to have your number removed. Many people are unaware of this danger. I was, in fact! Go to www.google.com then type in your phone number (separated by hyphens, including area code) and click on Google Search. If your phone number is listed it will show your name and address and give you two map options. Yahoo and MapQuest. See how accurate the map is to your home. VERY SCARY!!! 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 directions on how to get there from anywhere in the country. In the age of the internet communication we all know the dangers of this - for adults and CHILDREN! 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. 555-555-5555). 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. So far unlisted numbers and cell phone numbers, do not show up. -~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~= -~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~=-~= This is getting totally out of hand, so I will be providing RITLabs with a java-script for ALL my information and referrals so that it can be a bit harder to 'harvest' in the future! If I go to; http://www.google.com and enter my home phone or fax number, or the listed e-mail addresses and it returns RITLabs "register The Bat!" page as well! Very scary these developments!! I wondered why I was not only getting intense spamming of my TB! contact aliases, but also drstic increases in junk faxes and phone solicitations. Now I know why!! Please note the reference for 'opting out' of this 'service' to protect your privacy just a little bit better. -- Warmest tropical wishes, Spike He, who doth not look back, will lose his way. - Derek Leveret /"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign - Against HTML Mail \ / If it aint a webpage it shouldn't be HTML. X Say NO! to bloatmail - ban HTML mail! / \ Ask Spikey, he hates everything (HTML). -------------------------------------------------- Using TheBat! v1.62i hamstrung by Windows XP 5.1 Build 2600 Service Pack 1' -------------------------------------------------- ________________________________________________ Current version is 1.62 | "Using TBUDL" information: http://www.silverstones.com/thebat/TBUDLInfo.html
