Check first.

1. Pay.

   A payment request or a “free” trial. utilforge.org/tools/before-you-pay

2. Paste.

   Names and numbers going into an artificial intelligence tool. utilforge.org/tools/hide-names-from-ai

3. Sign.

   Sign-ups that keep charging. utilforge.org/tools/subscription-check

4. Send.

   A PDF (Portable Document Format) file leaving your hands. utilforge.org/tools/is-it-really-blacked-out

5. Share.

   A Word, Excel or PowerPoint file going to someone else, including one exported from Apple or Google apps. utilforge.org/tools/release-check

6. A link or a code in an unexpected message?

   Look for misspellings in the address. Contact the company on a number or website you already know. Keep your phone updated and use multi-factor sign-in.

7. Not sure? Ask first.

   The person I ask is