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Many modern rental vehicles come equipped with advanced „infotainment“ systems. This allows for hands-free calls, streaming music through the car’s speakers, and using navigation apps. However, it’s important to be aware that these systems may store personal data, such as contacts, call logs, messages, and location history. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises deleting this data before returning the rental car to prevent unauthorized access. Here are tips to help you rent a car online safely, without risking your personal data.
How to Protect Personal Data While Renting a Car?
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#1 Remove GPS Data
Using GPS can be convenient, but it can also reveal personal information in the wrong hands. Before returning the vehicle, make sure to delete any saved routes, favorite places, and driving history. This data not only discloses your home address but also reveals times when you are unlikely to be there. A determined thief could even track you to a vulnerable location to carry out a theft.
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#2 Use VPN
To ensure personal data protection, you should use a VPN. It encrypts data, preventing third parties from interfering with your channel. Another interesting feature of VPN for iPhone or any other device is bypassing geographic restrictions. With Amazon Prime VPN, you can even watch your favorite shows and movies in Asia. Given that VeePN has a free trial, it won’t cost you any extra money.
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#3 Think Insurance
If you’ve decided to reduce coverage to cut costs on your personal auto insurance, you might not have protection in case of theft or damage to your rental car. It’s important to note that coverage might be excluded for certain countries when traveling internationally. Get in touch with your insurance agent to go over these specifics.
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#4 Delete Your Contacts
Your contact list possesses potential value as malicious actors may exploit it to assume your identity. Additionally, they may leverage your call log to determine opportune moments for intervention. While individuals typically do not intentionally store this information within their vehicles, numerous vehicles automatically sync contacts upon connecting a phone via USB.
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#5 Log Out of In-Vehicle Apps
If you happen to utilize any applications on your vehicle, it is highly recommended to verify that you have signed out. Ideally, it’s best to use the free VPN extension Firefox or an app for all your car-related devices. Additionally, it is advisable to double-check that your username and password are not automatically stored when attempting to log back in.
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#6 Remove Garage Access
Any device granting your vehicle access to your residence needs to be eliminated. Cars are frequently programmed to effortlessly open garage doors upon a mere button press, thereby creating an ideal scenario for unscrupulous purchasers. This predicament is further exacerbated if you have sold your vehicle on your premises or overlooked the removal of GPS data.
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#7 Wipe Storage Drives
If you have a car with a hard drive, it is crucial to wipe it clean before selling or returning the lease. Additionally, remember to inspect any removable storage slots, like SD card readers. Be especially vigilant about USB drives as they are commonly used for music but may contain sensitive personal information.
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#8 Remove Bluetooth Pairings
Bluetooth poses a challenge as it could potentially be exploited to gain access to your devices. Subsequently, this could be utilized to breach your accounts, provided the proximity between the new owner and your device. Beware, if your GPS information hasn’t been removed, they will have precise knowledge of your whereabouts.
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#9 Reject the Arbitration Provision
When you hire a car from most major companies, you unwittingly consent to private arbitration in case of any disputes, which offers limited avenues for appeal and heavily favors the companies. However, some rental companies allow you to opt out of forced arbitration by sending an email within 30 days of renting to reject this provision. If you have any queries regarding arbitration contracts, it is advisable to seek legal advice from an attorney. They will provide a thorough understanding of the arbitration process and your rights.
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#10 Use a Factory Reset
Certain vehicles offer a factory reset option. If uncertain, consulting the user manual or reaching out to the manufacturer is advised. It’s crucial to acknowledge that using this feature might not erase all data. Therefore, verifying individual items in your vehicle is still recommended.
Conclusion
It’s a breeze to unintentionally leave behind personal data on a vehicle, mainly because, until recently, there wasn’t any data to clear out. In the past, cars remained relatively unidentified beyond their registration specifics. Fortunately, eradicating this data is a straightforward task, and by doing so, you eliminate the risk of it ever being exploited against you.
Of course, that wasn’t all!
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