Windows is being cautious.
You can safely proceed.
SmartScreen flags any app from an "unknown publisher." It takes two clicks to get past it - here is exactly what to do.
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognised app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk.
More infoMicrosoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognised app from starting.
Why does Windows show this?
Code signing is expensive
Microsoft trusts apps signed with certificates from authorities like DigiCert or Sectigo. These cost $200-500 per year and require company registration - out of reach for most independent tools. The warning is about the certificate, not the software.
New apps have no reputation yet
SmartScreen builds a reputation database based on download volume. New apps start at zero - even perfectly safe ones. This warning simply means the app is new, not that it is dangerous.
Zero data collection
No analytics, no telemetry, no ad tracking. We never know who you are. The only network call this app makes is to Gumroad when you activate a license key - everything else stays entirely on your machine.
Nothing installed without your knowledge
No drivers, no system services, no browser extensions, no hidden startup entries. The installer copies files to your user folder and adds a Start Menu shortcut. Running the app requires no administrator rights.
Worth noting: A code-signing certificate only proves a publisher's identity - it says nothing about whether an app collects your data, tracks your usage, or installs background services. Many trusted apps (VLC, 7-Zip, OBS) ran unsigned for years. The absence of a certificate is a cost issue, not a safety issue.