EXHIBIT 4.5

                           HERTZ TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
                       1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN, AS AMENDED

      1. PURPOSES. The purposes of this Stock Option Plan are to attract and
retain the best qualified personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,
to provide additional incentive to the Employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, if any (as defined in Section 2 below), as well as other
individuals who perform services for the Company or its Subsidiaries, and to
promote the success of the Company's business.

      Options granted hereunder may be either "incentive stock options", as
defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or
"non-qualified stock options", at the discretion of the Board and as reflected
in the terms of the written instrument evidencing an Option.

      2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

            (a) "Board" shall mean the Committee, if one has been appointed, or
the Board of Directors of the Company, if no Committee is appointed.

            (b) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company (par
value $.001 per share).

            (c) "Company" shall mean Hertz Technology Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

            (d) "Committee" shall mean the Committee appointed by the Board of
Directors in accordance with paragraph (a) of Section 4 of the Plan, if one is
appointed.

            (e) "Continuous Status as an Employee" shall mean the absence of any
interruption or termination of service as an Employee. Continuous Status as an
Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military
leave, or any other leave of absence approved by the Board.

            (f) "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers and
directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
The payment of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to
constitute "employment" by the Company.

            (g) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

            (h) "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean a stock option intended to
qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

            (i) "Non-qualified Stock Option" shall mean a stock option not
intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

<PAGE>

            (j) "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

            (k) "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an
Option.

            (l) "Optionee" shall mean an Employee or other person who receives
an Option.

            (m) "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation", whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.

            (n) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

            (o) "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

            (p) "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 11 of the Plan.

            (q) "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation", whether now
or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.

      3. STOCK.

      Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate
number of shares which may be optioned and sold under the Plan is 750,000 shares
of Common Stock. If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for any
reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were
subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become
available for further grant under the Plan.

      4. ADMINISTRATION.

      (a) Procedure. The Company's Board of Directors may appoint a Committee to
administer the Plan. The Committee shall consist of not less than two members of
the Board of Directors who shall administer the Plan on behalf of the Board of
Directors, subject to such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may
prescribe. Once appointed, the Committee shall continue to serve until otherwise
directed by the Board of Directors. From time to time the Board of Directors may
increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereof,
remove members (with or without cause), and appoint new members in substitution
therefor, fill vacancies, however caused, or remove all members of the Committee
and thereafter directly administer the Plan.

      The Committee must consist of not less than two members of the Board of
Directors, all of whom are "Non-Employee Directors" as defined in Rule 16b-3 of
the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.

      (b) Powers of the Board. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board
shall have the authority, in its discretion: (i) to grant Incentive Stock
Options, in accordance with Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or to grant Non-qualified Stock Options; (ii) to determine, upon review
of relevant information and in accordance with Section 8(b) of the Plan, the
fair market value of the Common Stock; (iii) to determine the exercise price per
share of Options to be granted which exercise price shall be determined in
accordance with Section 8(a) of the Plan; (iv) to determine the persons to whom,
and the time or times at which, Options shall be granted and the


                                       2
<PAGE>

number of shares to be represented by each Option; (v) to interpret the Plan;
(vi) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan;
(vii) to determine the terms and provisions of each Option granted (which need
not be identical) and, with the consent of the holder thereof, modify or amend
each Option; (viii) to accelerate or defer (with the consent of the Optionee)
the exercise date of any Option; (ix) to authorize any person to execute on
behalf of the Company any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an
Option previously granted by the Board; and (x) to make all other determinations
deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

      (c) Effect of the Board's Decision. All decisions, determinations, and
interpretations of the Board shall be final and binding on all Optionees and any
other holders of any Options granted under the Plan.

      5. ELIGIBILITY; NON-DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.

      (a) General. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.
Non-qualified Stock Options may be granted to employees as well as directors,
independent contractors and agents, as determined by the Board. Any person who
has been granted an Option may, if he is otherwise eligible, be granted an
additional Option or Options. The Plan shall not offer upon any Optionee any
right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company, nor shall it
interfere in any way with his right or the Company's right to terminate his
employment at any time.

      (b) Limitation on Incentive Stock Options. No Incentive Stock Option may
be granted to an Employee if, as the result of such grant, the aggregate fair
market value (determined at the time each option was granted) of the Shares with
respect to which such Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time
by such Employee during any calendar year (under all such plans of the Company
and any Parent and Subsidiary) shall exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars
($100,000).

      (c) Annual Limitation on all Stock Options. No Stock Options may be
granted to any Employee in any fiscal year if as a result of such grant the
aggregate number of shares subject to options granted to such Employee that year
(under all such plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceed
100,000 shares subject to the anti-dilution provisions of this Plan (Section11)
and/or other Plans as applicable.

      6. TERM OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of (i) its adoption by the Board of Directors, or (ii) its approval by
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company
entitled to vote on the adoption of the Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect
until August 6, 2006 unless sooner terminated under Section 13 of the Plan.

      7. TERM OF THE OPTION. The term of each Option shall be ten (10) years
from the date of grant hereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the
instrument evidencing the Option. However, in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option granted to an Employee who, immediately before the Incentive Stock Option
is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the
term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the day of grant
thereof or such shorter time as may be provided in the instrument evidencing the
Option.


                                       3
<PAGE>

      8. EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.

      (a) The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to
the exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Board, but
shall be subject to the following:

            (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option:

                  (A) granted to an Employee who, immediately before the grant
            of such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than
            ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the
            Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price
            shall be no less than 110% of the fair market value per Share on the
            date of grant, as the case may be;

                  (B) granted to an Employee not subject to the provisions of
            Section 8(a)(i)(A), the per Share exercise price shall be no less
            than one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value per Share
            on the date of grant.

            (ii) In the case of a Non-qualified Stock Option, the per Share
            exercise price shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of
            the fair market value per Share on the date of grant.

      (b) The fair market value shall be determined by the Board in its
discretion; provided, however, that where there is a public market for the
Common Stock, the fair market value per Share shall be the mean of the bid and
asked prices or, if applicable, the closing price of the Common Stock on the
date of grant, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) System or, in the event the Common Stock is listed
on a stock exchangeable, the fair market value per Share shall be the closing
price on such exchange on the date of grant of the Option, as reported in the
Wall Street Journal.

      (c) The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise
of an Option or in payment of any withholding taxes thereon, including the
method of payment, shall be determined by the Board and may consist entirely of
(i) cash, check or promissory note; (ii) other Shares of Common Stock owned by
the Employee having a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the
aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be
exercised; (iii) an assignment by the Employee of the net proceeds to be
received from a registered broker upon the sale of the Shares or the proceeds of
a loan from such broker in such amount; or (iv) any combination of such methods
of payment, or such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance
of Shares to the extent permitted under Delaware Law and meeting rules and
regulations of the SEC to plans meeting the requirements of Section 16(b)(3) of
the Exchange Act.

      9. EXERCISE OF OPTION.

      (a) Procedure or Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any option granted
hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such conditions as
may be determined by the Board, including performance criteria with respect to
the Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms of
the Plan.

            An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.


                                       4
<PAGE>

            An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of
such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the
instrument evidencing the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option
and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised
has been received by the Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Board,
consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(c)
of the Plan; it being understood that the Company shall take such action as may
be reasonably required to permit use of an approved payment method. Until the
issuance, which in no event will be delayed more than thirty (30) days from the
date of the exercise of the Option, (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on
the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company)
of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive
dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the
Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. No adjustment will
be made for a dividend or other rights for which the record date is prior to the
date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in the Plan.

      Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the
number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the
Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the
Option is exercised.

      (b) Termination of Status as an Employee. If any Employee ceases to serve
as an Employee, he may, but only within thirty (30) days (or such other period
of time not exceeding three (3) months as is determined by the Board) after the
date he ceases to be an Employee of the Company, exercise his Option to the
extent that he was entitled to exercise it as of the date of such termination.
To the extent that he was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of
such termination, or if he does not exercise such Option (which he was entitled
to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

      (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b) above, in the event an
Employee is unable to continue his employment with the Company as a result of
his total and permanent disability (as defined in Section 105(d)(4) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), he may, buy only within three (3)
months (or such other period of time not exceeding twelve (12) months as is
determined by the Board) from the date of disability, exercise his Option to the
extent he was entitled to exercise it at the date of such disability. To the
extent that he was not entitled to exercise it at the date of such disability,
or if he does not exercise such Option (which he was entitled to exercise)
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

      (d) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an Optionee:

      (i)   during the term of the Option who is at the time of his death an
            Employee of the Company and who shall have been in Continuous Status
            as an Employee since the date of grant of the Option, the Option may
            be exercised, at any time within twelve (12) months following the
            date of death, by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired
            the right to exercise that would have accrued had the Optionee
            continued living one (1) month after the date of death; or

      (ii)  within thirty (30) days (or such other period of time not exceeding
            three (3) months as is determined by the Board) after the
            termination of Continuous Status as an Employee, the Option may be
            exercised, at any time within three (3) months following the date of
            death, by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the
            right to exercise the


                                       5
<PAGE>

            Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the
            right to exercise that had accrued at the date of termination.

      10. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. The Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the
lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.

      11. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR MERGER. Subject to any
required action by the Stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered
by each outstanding Option, and the number of Shares which have been authorized
for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or
which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an
Option, as well as the price per Share covered by each such outstanding Option,
shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of
issued Shares resulting from a stock split or the payment of a stock dividend
with respect to the Common Stock or any other increase or decrease in the number
of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by
the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of
the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of
consideration". Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination
in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly
provided herein no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price
of Shares subject to an Option.

      In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or
in the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, the
Board of Directors of the Company shall, as to outstanding Options, either (i)
make appropriate provision for the protection of any such outstanding Options by
the substitution on an equitable basis of appropriate stock of the Company or of
the merged, consolidated or otherwise reorganized corporation which will be
issuable in respect to one share of Common Stock of the Company; provided, only
that the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the Shares subject to the
Options immediately after such substitution over the purchase price thereof is
not more than the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the shares
subject to such Options immediately before such substitution over the purchase
price thereof, or (ii) upon written notice to an Optionee, provide that all
unexercised Options must be exercised within a specified number of days of the
date of such notice or they will be terminated. In any such case, the Board of
Directors may, in its discretion, advance the lapse of any waiting or
installment periods and exercise dates.

      12. TIME FOR GRANTING OPTIONS. The date of grant of an Option shall, for
all purposes, be the date on which the Board makes the determination granting
such Option. Notice of the determination shall be given to each person to whom
an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

      13. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

      (a) The Board may amend or terminate the Plan from time to time in such
respects as the Board may deem advisable; provided, however, that the following
revisions or amendments shall require approval of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of the Company entitled to vote:


                                       6
<PAGE>

      (i)   any increase in the number of Shares subject to the Plan, other than
            in connection with an adjustment under Section 11 of the Plan;

      (ii)  any change in the designation of the class of persons eligible to be
            granted options; or

      (iii) any material increase in the benefits accruing to participants under
            the Plan.

      (b) Stockholder Approval. If any amendment requiring stockholder approval
under Section 13(a) of the Plan is made, such stockholder approval shall be
solicited as described in Section 17 of the Plan.

      (c) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or termination
of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such Options shall
remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or
terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board,
which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

      14. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares shall not be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the
issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all
relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of
1933, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and
the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed,
and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with
respect to such compliance.

      As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the
person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such
exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any
present intention to sell or distribute such Shares, if in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by, or appropriate
under, any of the aforementioned relevant provisions of law.

      15. RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will
at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

      Inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body
having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be
necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve
the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such
Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

      16. OPTION AGREEMENT. Options shall be evidenced by written option
agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.

      17. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. Adoption of the Plan shall be subject to
approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or
after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board of Directors. If such
stockholder approval is obtained at a duly held stockholders' meeting, it may be
obtained by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the Company entitled to vote thereon.

      18. OTHER PROVISIONS. The Stock Option Agreement authorized under the Plan
shall contain such other provisions, including, without limitations,
restrictions upon the exercise of the


                                       7
<PAGE>

Option, as the Board of Directors of the Company shall deem advisable. Any
Incentive Stock Option Agreement shall contain such limitations and restrictions
upon the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option as shall be necessary in order
that such option will be an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

      19. INDEMNIFICATION OF BOARD. In addition to such other rights of
indemnification as they may have as directors or as members of the Board, the
members of the Board shall be indemnified by the Company against the reasonable
expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred in
connection with the defense of any action suit or proceeding, or in connection
with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason
of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection without the Plan or
any Option granted thereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in
settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal
counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment
in any such action, suit or proceeding that such Board member is liable for
negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duties, provided that within
sixty (60) days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding a Board
member shall, in writing, offer the Company the opportunity, at its own expense,
to handle and defend the same.

      20. OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect
any other stock option or incentive or other compensation plans in effect for
the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall the Plan preclude the Company from
establishing any other forms of incentive or other compensation for employees
and directors of the Company or any Subsidiary.

      21. COMPLIANCE WITH EXCHANGE ACT RULE 16b-3. With respect to persons
subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under the Plan are
intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its
successors under the Exchange Act. To the extent any provision of the Plan or
action by the Board fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the
extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Board.

      22. SINGULAR, PLURAL; GENDER. Whenever used herein, nouns in the singular
shall include the plural, and the masculine pronoun shall include the feminine
gender.

      23. HEADINGS, ETC., NO PART OF PLAN. Headings of Articles and Sections
hereof are inserted for convenience and reference; they constitute no part of
the Plan.


                                       8