Subscriber Ann Petree wrote to ask:

Terry,
Being self trained to my pc, I am always wanting to learn more information. I was pleased to learn from you about OpenOffice.org. Although, if during the download, I received a warning the publisher could not be recognized. (firewall protection) I chose not to run it, hoping you could give me a word of confidence or of encouragement.
Thanks,
Ann Petree

That’s a new Microsoft validation scheme that many publishers of free software don’t want to pay for or in which they don’t want to participate. I believe this showed up with Windows XP Service Pack 2.

The warning means that the install program was not “digitally signed” by the publisher. If you used one of the links from the www.openoffice.org web site, you should be just fine.

Couple of tips: if OpenOffice offers to install Java, your answer should be “yes.” Also, reboot before you run OpenOffice.org. Java is required for some of the functions. I have a report from another reader that some other functions don’t work until you reboot.

The first time I saw that warning, I was concerned, too. But, with a good anti-virus program, good anti-spyware program and a good firewall (not the Windows XP Firewall, though, which does not control output from your machine) I have less concerns.

But, let me say that I make a point of downloading from sites I trust, not just anywhere I can find a file.