Downloads & security
Is Photo Order Fix safe to download?
Short answer: yes, and here is exactly why your browser says otherwise the first time.
The warnings are about popularity, not about a virus. Chrome and Windows both check whether a program is already widely downloaded and whether it carries a paid certificate. Anything published recently by a small independent developer fails both checks at first, however harmless it is. Nothing has been detected in the file.
Why does Chrome say Photo Order Fix is not commonly downloaded?
Chrome keeps a reputation score for every downloadable file, based largely on how many people have downloaded it before. A program published recently has no score yet, so Chrome warns about it. The warning is about the file being unfamiliar, not about anything found inside it.
Why does Windows say "Windows protected your PC"?
That is Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, and it works the same way — it checks whether the program is already known and widely used, and whether it carries a paid code signing certificate. A new independent program has neither at first. Clicking More info and then Run anyway lets it start, and you only do it once.
Is it actually safe?
The program renames photo files on your own computer and does nothing else. It installs into your own user folder without asking for administrator rights, makes no changes to Windows settings, starts nothing in the background, and never sends your photos anywhere — it does not need an internet connection at all once you have it. You can confirm the file you downloaded is exactly the one published here by comparing its SHA-256 checksum, given below.
Does installing it make the warning go away?
No, and it is worth being clear about that. An installer is itself just another program Windows has not seen before, so it gets the same warning. Installing does give you a normal entry in Settings, Apps, Installed apps with an Uninstall button, and a Start menu shortcut — but the warning only disappears once the program is signed with a paid code signing certificate.
How do I uninstall it?
If you used the installer: open Settings, go to Apps, then Installed apps, find Photo Order Fix, click the three dots and choose Uninstall. If you used the single-file version instead, there is nothing to uninstall — just delete the file. Either way you can also delete the small settings folder at %LOCALAPPDATA%\PhotoOrderFix, which holds nothing but your licence key.
Will this warning ever stop?
Yes, in two ways. Reputation builds as more people download and run it, and warnings fade on their own. It disappears immediately once the program is signed with a code signing certificate, which is planned.
How do I check the checksum myself?
Open PowerShell, type: Get-FileHash .\PhotoOrderFix.exe -Algorithm SHA256, and press Enter. The value it prints should match the one published on this page. If it does not match, do not run the file.
Checksums for the current version
PhotoOrderFixSetup.exe — SHA-256
PhotoOrderFix.exe — SHA-256
PhotoOrderFix.zip — SHA-256
Still uneasy? Write to hodltid@gmail.com and ask. A real person answers.