Utilized Hertz? You may want to monitor your credit.

      Hertz

      If you have rented a car from Hertz in the past, it is advisable to review your credit reports and be alert for any irregularities. The car rental company has issued a warning to customers about a data breach that occurred between October and December 2024. Hertz confirmed on February 10 that “data was obtained by an unauthorized third party.” Their assessment of the compromised data was completed on April 2, 2025.

      To put it simply, your personal information—such as your name, contact details, date of birth, credit card data, driver’s license details, and even workers' compensation claims—may have been compromised. Additionally, "a very small number of individuals might have had their Social Security or other government identification numbers, passport details, and Medicare or Medicaid ID information exposed."

      The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reported that over $12.5 billion was lost to fraud in 2024. Hertz, being a national company with locations in all 50 states, means that customers nationwide could be at risk. The leaked information could be sufficient for identity theft, so remain cautious of any suspicious purchases or credit accounts opened in your name.

      Hertz

      Despite this, Hertz has not reported any instances of damage resulting from the breach. "While Hertz is not aware of any misuse of personal information for fraudulent activities related to this incident, we advise potentially affected individuals to exercise caution by reviewing account statements, monitoring their free credit reports for unauthorized activity, and reporting any suspicious findings,” the company states.

      Safeguarding your personal data is challenging in today’s digital environment, particularly with the types of exploitation that target companies like Hertz being hard to detect in real-time. While there may be little you can do once your data is in a company's possession, you can protect yourself while online by using a VPN and implementing smart safety measures.

      Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more.

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      Specs and configurations