How to tell if a PDF is safe to open

PDFs can carry malicious scripts and misleading links. A few habits keep you safe without paranoia.

Warning signs

• Unexpected files from unknown senders.
• Prompts to "enable" content or run scripts.
• Links that do not match their visible text.

Safer viewing

Open unknown PDFs in a browser or sandboxed viewer that does not run embedded scripts, and keep your reader updated.

Check before trusting

Hover links to see the real destination, and be wary of documents pressuring urgent action.