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Petco confirms major data breach involving customer data

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Petco confirms major data breach involving customer data

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Petco revealed a data breach that exposed sensitive customer information. The company disclosed the details in state filings after identifying a configuration in one of its software applications that made certain files accessible online. This issue has now been corrected, but the impact is significant.

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THIRD-PARTY BREACH EXPOSES CHATGPT ACCOUNT DETAILS

Petco disclosed a breach that exposed customer data after a software setting left files accessible online. (Photographer: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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What Petco says the breach exposed

According to reports filed with the Texas attorney general’s office, the exposed data included names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account details, credit or debit card numbers and dates of birth. Filings in California, Massachusetts and Montana confirm additional affected residents.

In California, companies must report breaches involving at least 500 state residents. Petco did not disclose the exact number, which suggests the real total is higher. For context, Petco said in 2022 that it served more than 24 million customers.

Petco says the company sent notifications to individuals whose information was involved. The sample notice released by the California attorney general explains that a software setting allowed certain files to be accessible online. Petco says it removed those files, corrected the setting and added new security measures.

The company is offering free credit and identity theft monitoring to victims in California, Massachusetts and Montana. It is not clear if similar support is being offered to affected Texas residents.

We reached out to Petco for comment, and a representative provided CyberGuy with the following statement,

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“We recently identified a setting in one of our applications which inadvertently made certain Petco files accessible online. Upon identifying the issue, we took immediate steps to correct the error and began an investigation. We notified individuals whose information was involved and continue to monitor for further issues. We take this incident seriously. To help prevent something like this from happening again, we have taken and will continue to take steps to enhance the security of our network.”

What this breach means for you

A breach that exposes government IDs, financial numbers and birth dates creates long-term risks. Criminals use this mix of information to open accounts, take over existing ones or try to pass identity checks. Even if no fraud happens right away, exposed data can sit in criminal markets for years.

Ways to stay safe after a breach like this

You can take several steps today that help lower your risk and protect your identity going forward.

1) Place a credit freeze

A freeze blocks new credit accounts in your name. It also stops criminals from opening loans or credit cards with your stolen information. You can freeze your credit for free at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

2) Add two more freezes

Two additional freezes cover accounts that do not run through the major credit bureaus. Freeze ChexSystems to stop criminals from opening checking or savings accounts. Freeze NCTUE to block fake phone, cable or utility accounts.

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3) Turn on account alerts

Set up alerts for banking, credit cards and online shopping accounts. Alerts help you spot suspicious activity fast.

4) Use a password manager

Strong passwords protect you from credential stuffing attacks. This happens when criminals take stolen passwords from one breach and try them on other sites. A password manager creates unique passwords for every account and helps you stop those attacks before they start.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials. 

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com

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5) Monitor your identity

If Petco offered you free identity theft monitoring, enroll as soon as possible. It helps you catch fraud that can happen months or years later.

Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address, and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.

See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com

WHY YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING DATA NEEDS A CLEANUP NOW

State filings show Petco customers had Social Security and financial information exposed in the breach. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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6) Remove exposed personal data

Data broker sites collect and share personal details that fuel scams. Removing your information reduces your exposure and makes you a harder target.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com

WHY SCAMMERS OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS IN YOUR NAME

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Petco says it corrected the software issue and notified individuals whose information was compromised. (Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

7) Watch for phishing and use strong antivirus software

Scammers often follow a breach with emails or texts that look real. Slow down and check every message before you click. A strong antivirus helps block malicious links and alerts you when something looks risky.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Data breaches happen often, but this one involves information that can cause lasting harm. You can protect yourself with a few quick steps that reduce the chance of fraud and limit how far criminals can get with your data.

How much trust do you place in companies to protect your personal information? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved. 

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Backrooms is a certified blockbuster with a $38 million opening day

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Backrooms is a certified blockbuster with a  million opening day

The Kane Parsons’ film Backrooms is expected to earn up to $90 million in its opening weekend after pulling down $38 million on Friday alone. That’s not only above expectations, but absolutely obliterates A24’s previous opening weekend record of $25.5 million for Alex Garland’s Civil War. It’s also a better opening day than The Mandalorian and Grogu, which only pulled down $33.7 million on its way to a total $81.6 million for the weekend.

That also means that Backrooms is an incredibly profitable movie, with an estimated $10 million budget. By comparison, the latest Star Wars disappointment cost $165 million and was considered affordable compared to other entries in the series.

While Backrooms hasn’t received quite as much universal praise as fellow low-budget horror breakout Obsession, it’s still largely getting positive reviews. It also adds to the growing number of YouTube creators (including Obsession’s Curry Barker) who have proven to be successful box office draws.

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Cab-less electric trucks hit Ohio roads

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Cab-less electric trucks hit Ohio roads

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A freight truck with no driver, no cab and no one sitting behind the wheel is starting to sound more familiar. In fact, this summer, that is exactly what is happening on local roads in Marysville, Ohio.

EASE Logistics, an Ohio-based logistics company, is partnering with autonomous truck technology company Einride to deploy two cab-less electric trucks between EASE warehouse locations. The two companies recently announced the proof-of-concept service.

The trucks will operate on EASE property and local public roads. They will move goods between warehouse locations while the companies collect data on warehousing, distribution and transportation operations.

The project is part of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s DriveOhio Truck Automation Corridor Project, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation. The goal is to study how autonomous trucking affects operations, safety and freight efficiency.

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AI TRUCK SYSTEM MATCHES TOP HUMAN DRIVERS IN MASSIVE SAFETY SHOWDOWN WITH PERFECT SCORES

Autonomous cab-less electric trucks are beginning real-world freight testing this summer on local roads in Marysville, Ohio, as EASE Logistics and Einride launch a new pilot program. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What are cab-less electric trucks?

These are not regular trucks with a driver waiting to take over. Einride’s vehicles are electric, autonomous and cab-less. That means there is no traditional driver’s seat, steering wheel area or cab built for a human operator.

The trucks use SAE Level 4 autonomous technology. In other words, the vehicle can drive itself under specific approved conditions without a human driver inside.

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However, the trucks will still have human oversight. A remote operator will monitor them from off-site and can intervene when needed. The companies say that setup helps keep operations running safely and smoothly during the test.

Where will the autonomous trucks operate?

The trucks will move freight between EASE Logistics warehouses in Marysville, Ohio. They will operate during the summer of 2026 on private property and local public roads.

That detail makes a difference because many autonomous vehicle tests happen in controlled settings. This project moves closer to normal freight work. These trucks will operate inside daily logistics

EASE says the deployment will generate data on how autonomous trucks affect warehouse movement, distribution timing and transportation operations. The companies want to see how this technology performs in the real world, where freight schedules and traffic conditions rarely behave perfectly.

THE ROAD TO PROSPERITY WILL BE PAVED BY AUTONOMOUS TRUCKING

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EASE Logistics and Einride will operate driverless electric freight trucks between Ohio warehouse locations while collecting data on safety, efficiency and logistics operations. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why Ohio is testing cab-less electric trucks

Ohio has become an active testing ground for truck automation. This deployment extends the Ohio Department of Transportation and DriveOhio’s Truck Automation Corridor Project, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation. The project is designed to evaluate how autonomous technology affects operations, safety and freight efficiency.

EASE President and CEO Peter Coratola, Jr., said, “EASE is proud to continue advancing the Truck Automation Corridor Project alongside DriveOhio and innovative partners like Einride.” He added, “Deployments like this help move autonomous trucking from controlled pilots into daily freight operations, where safety, reliability, and efficiency can be evaluated at scale.”

This also marks EASE Logistics’ third autonomous trucking deployment with DriveOhio. That puts the company among a small group of logistics providers testing multiple autonomous freight platforms in live operations.

How safe are cab-less electric trucks?

When people hear “driverless truck,” their first thought may not be efficiency. It may be, “What happens if something goes wrong?”

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That reaction is fair. These vehicles are large, heavy and operate near the public. So safety will shape how people judge this project.

Einride CEO Roozbeh Charli said, “Deploying these autonomous trucks in daily logistics operations with EASE reflects years of rigorous development and real-world validation.” He added, “Safety is not a feature we add to our technology; it is the foundation everything is built on.”

The companies also say a remote operator monitors the trucks off-site and can intervene if needed. That detail helps, but the public will still want clear answers about routes, oversight, emergency response and how remote operators step in. Those answers will become more important as autonomous trucks leave closed test areas and enter everyday traffic.

Why companies want driverless freight

For logistics companies, the appeal is easy to understand. Electric autonomous trucks could help move freight with fewer emissions, more predictable scheduling and tighter warehouse coordination.

Short warehouse-to-warehouse routes also make sense for early autonomous deployments. The route is limited. The operation is easier to study. The company can collect useful data without starting with long-haul trucking across several states.

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Still, the rollout will need to prove itself. Trucks must handle traffic, road conditions, pedestrians and unexpected behavior from human drivers. Those moments will test whether autonomous freight can deliver on its promise.

The future of autonomous trucking

Autonomous trucking has moved from bold promise to real-world testing. Yet the industry still has to earn public confidence.

This Ohio deployment gives EASE, Einride and transportation officials a chance to gather useful data. It also gives the public a closer look at what driverless freight looks like.

The cab-less design may be the most striking part. Removing the cab signals a bigger shift. These trucks are built around the idea that the vehicle, software and remote operations team can handle the job.

That marks a major change in how freight has worked for generations.

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 TESLA BUILDS A CAR WITH NO STEERING WHEEL. NOW WHAT?

Ohio officials are expanding autonomous freight testing with cab-less electric trucks operating on public roads under remote human supervision this summer. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What this means to you

You may not live near Marysville, Ohio. Still, this test matters because it shows where freight transportation is heading.

If the project works well, more companies could look at autonomous trucks for warehouse-to-warehouse routes. That could change how goods move before they ever reach store shelves or your front door.

It could also raise new questions for workers. Logistics companies may need more people who can monitor, maintain and manage autonomous systems. At the same time, drivers and warehouse workers will want honest answers about how these trucks could affect jobs over time.

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For consumers, the biggest issue may be trust. People will want proof that these vehicles can operate safely around regular traffic. They will also want transparency when something goes wrong.

Join CyberGuy Live: Lock Down Your Phone in 30 Minutes (Saturday, June 13, 10 am ET)

Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free, live online class, Kurt the CyberGuy will walk you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do in real time. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Register here: CyberGuyLive.com

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Cab-less electric trucks on Ohio roads may sound alarming at first. But this project shows how quickly autonomous freight is moving into real logistics work. The EASE and Einride deployment still has plenty to prove. Safety, public trust, worker impact and day-to-day reliability will all matter. However, this summer’s test could give the trucking industry a clearer look at what comes next. Driverless freight may start with short warehouse routes. Over time, it could reshape how goods move across the country.

Would you feel comfortable sharing the road with a cab-less electric truck if no driver was inside, but a remote operator was watching from miles away?  Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

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Nvidia, Microsoft, and Arm are all teasing Nvidia’s new N1X laptop processors

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Nvidia, Microsoft, and Arm are all teasing Nvidia’s new N1X laptop processors

It’s the world’s worst kept secret that Nvidia is about to announce its own Arm-powered laptop chips at Computex this weekend, and now Microsoft, Nvidia, and Arm are all openly teasing the announcement. The Windows and Nvidia GeForce accounts on X both posted “A new era of PC” earlier today, and now Arm has followed up with an identical post.

All three posts include coordinates pointing to where Computex is hosted in Taipei. Nvidia is holding a Computex keynote in Taipei at 8PM PT / 11PM ET on Sunday night, where it’s rumored to be announcing its new N1 and N1x laptop chips.

These Arm-powered Nvidia processors have been long-rumored, with reports earlier this year suggesting that both Lenovo and Dell have been preparing new laptops with the N1X chips. We first heard rumors about Nvidia’s laptop processors in 2023, and Dell CEO Michael Dell hinted at the possibility of an AI PC with Nvidia during an interview in 2024.

Nvidia’s entry into Windows on Arm will mean Qualcomm will no longer have an exclusive license for Microsoft’s Windows 11 Arm variant of its operating system. That’s good news for laptop competition, even if Qualcomm is trying to keep entry-level laptops affordable with its new Snapdragon C platform.

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