My heart rate slowed.

For one terrible second, a red error message flashed: “Invalid key format.” I’d accidentally copied a space at the end. I deleted it, clicked again, and…

First, I went to the AnyDesk website. I clicked Download and installed the free version. When it opened, I saw a screen with a nine-digit number—my address. But it also had a big yellow banner: “Free version. Limited features.”

I typed (okay, I copy-pasted) Mark’s gibberish: A8B9-C7D2-E5F1-G3H4

I tried to paste the key into a box that didn't exist. Panic. Where do you even put a license key?

Whoosh.