Would You Like The Data Theft Option With That Rental Car?

According to a recent Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") blog post, consumers should think twice before connecting their cell phones to a rental car.   The FTC warns that the vehicle could record all kinds of data, including your personal contacts, location, web browsing, and even your text messages.

This blog post written by an FTC staff attorney explains that so-called "connected cars" can access and record users' cellphone data, and retain that data for an indefinite period.  "Unless you delete that data before you return the car, other people may view it, including future renters and rental car employees or even hackers," explains the FTC.  As someone who frequently rents cars, I can vouch for this personally.  I have rented cars on numerous occasions where the car's address book was populated with a previous customer's contacts.