Dear Juanita,
This answer is LLLLLOOOONNNNGGGG overdue, but I hope it will still prove helpful.
Figuring out when downloading a program is safe or unsafe is tricky business. If, as it sounds here, you initiated contact with the software company, then you should be safe. In your case, it sounds like they may not provide their software on discs at all, but instead prefer that their customers download their product. It saves them time and money not having to create discs and mail them out.
When you want to be especially cautious is when an unsolicited offer either appears on your screen as a pop up or is received by you in an e-mail. These are advertisers fishing around hoping to catch someone to buy their product, I do not respond to unsolicited products or downloads.
If the item is supposed to be free, under no circumstances should you need to give your credit card information. And NEVER release your social security number unless you are 100% sure that the request is legitimate…better to call your bank directly than to answer an e-mail that may look like it is from them, but it is not.
Keep in mind – if it sounds too good to be true it usually is.
I hope that helps. Again, I apologize for being so tardy.
Keep in touch,
Abby