Share only what is needed

  • 2 minutes

A safer prompt gives Copilot enough information to help without adding private details.

Instead of typing A safer prompt
My home address is 123 Main Street. Help me plan when to leave for my appointment. My appointment is at 2:00 PM. The trip takes 30 minutes. What time should I leave?

The safer prompt gives Copilot the information needed without sharing a home address.

Think before copying, pasting, or uploading

A message, form, photo, or document may include names, account numbers, barcodes, signatures, or other private details. Before sharing it with AI:

  • Pause and read the information
  • Remove names, numbers, photos, and details that are not needed
  • Do not upload an identification card, benefit letter, bank statement, medical form, or other private document
  • Follow school, workplace, program, or organization rules
  • Ask a trusted person to review it when unsure

Watch for scams and unsafe requests

Scammers may use calls, texts, emails, social media, websites, or AI-made voices and images to appear real. A message may be a scam even when it uses the name, photo, or voice of someone familiar.

Be careful when a person or message:

  • Creates fear, excitement, or pressure to act right away
  • Asks for money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, a wire transfer, or cash
  • Asks for a password, one-time code, account number, or identification number
  • Says to keep the request secret
  • Sends an unexpected link, attachment, QR code, or phone number
  • Claims to be a family member, friend, company, bank, police officer, or government worker and asks for help or payment
  • Offers a prize, job, investment, benefit, refund, or urgent account fix that seems too good to be true

A clear safety rule: Do not send money, share private information, or open an unexpected link because of an AI answer or an unexpected message.

Stop, check, and ask

When something does not feel right, use these three steps:

1. STOP Do not reply, pay, share information, select a link, download a file, or call the number in the message.
2. CHECK Contact the person or organization in a different way. Use a phone number, website, app, or contact already known to be real. Do not use the contact information in the unexpected message.
3. ASK Tell a trusted person what happened. Ask for help before taking the next step. If money, account access, or private information was already shared, ask for help right away.