I needed the home address of a good friend but did not want to ask because I thought she would be insulted that did not remember the address. I typed her full telephone number in Google and got her home address and sent her a cute card. Unfortunately, I mentioned this to her and she went ballistic, not because I did not remember her address but that it was so readily accessible on the Internet.

Most likely, if your telephone number is listed in the telephone directory then your number is listed on the Internet also. I found this out last year from a post listed in one of my many groups. Google is not the only search engine with home telephone numbers and addresses, but it is the one most people talk about. Do a test now. Go to Google, type your telephone number and see what happens. You may find, not only is your home address listed but directions to your home are available with the click of your mouse.

Apparently the Google folks understand that this can be disconcerting. They have made it easy for you to have your telephone number removed from their site. Go to the Google telephone number removal page at Google and type the information exactly as it appears on the Internet and Google will remove your telephone number. Wait 2 or 3 days and check to be sure it has been removed. I understand that this is usually done within 48 hours. If you want to be completely removed from other sites, go to those listed at Google and follow the removal instructions for each site.

Someone I had not heard from in years and had no desire to hear from, once contacted me late at night, when I asked how he had gotten my number he told me that it was on a telephone number CD that he bought specifically to find me. I was so disturbed that I had future calls blocked. We should not be surprised that our telephone numbers are listed on line, information of just about everything is available on the Internet if you know how to find it. It stands to reason that telephone numbers listed in a public telephone directory would be also. Still it leaves a bad feeling when you are not aware that your name and address is out there for all to see. If you are not comfortable with this, check Google to see if you are listed, if yes, start removing your personal information now.