In case you didn't know, if you have a published telephone number it's possible to find your name and a map to your published address by using one of many ''reverse telephone number'' Internet search sites.

This information has become more accessible and well-known thanks to recent news that Google now provides such a lookup service.

Fortunately, Google provides a way to have your number removed upon your request.

Go to www.google.com and type in your phone number (separated by hyphens, e.g. 555-555-5555) and click on Google Search. If your phone number is listed it will show your name; if your address is listed the results will include links to maps.

If you want your info to be removed the Google Phonebook, an icon resembling a telephone will appear on the left side of the results page. Click this icon to go to a page describing the search service. At the bottom right of that section is a link to request your number be removed from the database.



By Carol Wellner