WhitePages and affiliates with personal info - how can I stay off the grid?

I googled myself and found out that there are so many websites such as WhitePages, 411, PeopleFinder, etc etc that has all sorts of information on me including, but not limited to my name, previous addresses, parents, jobs (probably from LinkedIn, which is now deleted), potential work emails, phone number, etc. I know that Abine offers a DeleteMe service that, for $129/year, will allegedly remove all this information from online.

Why is it allowed for these websites to gather and sell personal information for a buck a pop? Is this legal? How can I completely stay off the grid? I have eliminated my LinkedIn and all social media accounts. I now only have Twitter under an alias name, which I mainly used to tweet at hotels and airlines, and am not connected with anyone who knows me personally.

 

Because it's public information. My go to search engine for tracking people down: http://www.zabasearch.com/

And this is what has us all worried about you here.

 

Why is that worrying?

 

What's the story behind that guy?

 

You don't recognize him? Well, that's a good thing he's not someone you relate with, but concerning in the sense you need to get out more often.

http://cyber.eserver.org/unabom.txt

 

Oh I know the Unabomber! I just have never seen the photos.

 

It's perfectly legal, as mentioned before. Your public info is also in your local phone book as well, I imagine. So is a lot of other stuff that you probably haven't thought of (for example: deeds, plats, mortgages, powers of attorney, and liens).

 

To stay off the grid, one must unplug from the grid. Completely.

 

And move to the boonies in Appalachian mountains.