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Google Search By Number

Posted by Zonk on from the google,-where-are-my-car-keys? dept.

fizz writes "Well, Google has done it again. This time, simply enter any tracking number or id number into the Google search box, and Voila! You have a link to the shipper and tracking information. They have a funny little mom/son tech talk bit on the blog about this."

9 of 286 comments (clear)

  1. Google did this a year ago by applecore · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I agree with Googleblog's Mr. Stocky that people need to be told about this. But which people?

    Most of /. probably knew about this, since it's been around since at least February 2004

    That page contains the request Are there other types of numbers you'd like Google to search? Please email us at suggestions@google.com.

    Today's page contains Are there other types of numbers you'd like Google to search? Please contact us.

    If in the last year Google received suggestions for other numbers to be searched, they do not seem to be implemented today. Drivers Lic #'s, SSN's, Lic Plate #'s, are not likely to be included. What numbers could Google search?

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    1. Re:Google did this a year ago by FreshlyShornBalls · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Drivers Lic #'s, SSN's, Lic Plate #'s, are not likely to be included. What numbers could Google search?

      How about UPC numbers, reverse phone, IP address lookups.......

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  2. even cooler: check out the first google map hack by paronomasia5 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    this is old news you hams.

    even cooler: check out the first google map hack (it even blew the pants of the google maps crew):

    http://paulrademacher.com/housing/

  3. UPS requires the terms and conditions checkbox by ZeeExSixAre · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If you enter their website traditionally, UPS requires that the user click the annoying "By selecting this box and the Track button, I agree to these Terms and Conditions." Google bypasses this. What are the legal ramifications of this bypass?

  4. Privacy Concerns? by LaughingLinuxMan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Having this information crawled and therefore easily available to a world-wide audience makes me nervous. What if you are having passports or some other ID material shipped? Or medical tests? Interception is now that much easier. I know the protection before was via obscurity, i.e. the information was not crawled, but, personally, I think that shippers should not make this information crawlable.

    -LLM

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  5. how long before SSN's and CC # will be there too? by drgonzo59 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I am wondering how long before I plug my SSN and get some results too. Actually I already have. The university I go to uses SSNs as university id and I took this Network Security class (oh the irony!) and sure enough the supposedly "security and privacy aware" professor has posted the results of first midterm on the web indexed by SSNs. Then just a page away he posted later the results of one of the homeworks indexed by first and last names. I have both lists now and for 20 people there is 1 in 10 chance to randomly find Name and social security combination of one of these 20 people. I then went to the library, which conviniently uses only SSN and last name as a login for their machines. In about 20 minutes I knew 19 SSN and the names associated with it. All from Google.

    I am not blaming Google of course, it is the fault of the university and the professor.

  6. THIS THREAD IS USELESS WITHOUT PICTURES by donutello · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Well, not exactly. It's a very cool hack. My #1 feature request is to link it to Google's satellite maps also.

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  7. Please stop parroting the Google Blog! by duffbeer703 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Give me a break. Google has done this for nearly 2 years now.

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  8. Why doesn't Gmail use this? by Acoustic · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Since Gmail is already scanning my messages, why doesn't it pick tracking numbers out of my e-mail? Then it could do something useful and give me a link to the shipper.

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