Malware Complaints

hpPostScriptPDE.plugin will damage your computer

Daniel Sadakov
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hpPostScriptPDE.plugin Mac Driver

Some Mac users are reporting that their Mac has started to display a strange warning message that occurs in the form of a pop-up claiming that “hpPostScriptPDE.plugin will damage your computer”.

As per the information that is available, this message appears to be related to HP printer drivers that seem to be identified as harmful by the built-in MacOS anti-malware App (Xprotect).

hpPostScriptPDE.plugin will damage your computer message

MacOS Catalina 10.15.7 users seem to be getting the disturbing pop-up message most frequently. That’s why,  in this post, we will discuss some of the available solutions, including some fixes shared in Apple and HP forums.

That’s why if you are looking for a solution to the “hpPostScriptPDE.plugin will damage your computer” alert, the next paragraphs may be exactly what you have been looking for.

Is your HP Certificate verified?

One of the suggested reasons of why you might be getting the “hpPostScriptPDE.plugin will damage your computer” message on your Mac that we found in HP Forums is the likelihood that your driver’s license has expired. According to information shared there, this is what causes Mac to warn you that hpPostScriptPDE.plugin is risky. And here is what is suggested as a fix to this:

Fix 1

Upgrading the software and the drivers by using HP Easy Start is one quick fix to the issue. For that, you have to download HP Easy Start from here and follow the printer ‘s configuration directions.

You will be informed of whether an update is needed by the application.

If you require an update, there will be a checkbox next to Printer Essentials that will be selected by default. Click the “Install” button next to it to begin the update process.

If you want to have a clean new install of the software, please follow the steps described below:

  1. First, download HP Easy Start from the link.
  2. Open the HP Easy Start.
  3. From the MacOS menu bar, select HP Easy Start Menu.
  4. Select Uninstall HP Software from this menu.
  5. Click ‘Continue’ to begin uninstalling.
  6. After the process is complete, press the Set Up New Device.
  7. Follow the new device configuration instructions.
  8. The program will launch the installation phase.
  9. To complete the entire setup process, follow the remaining instructions.

Fix 2 from Apple Forum

There is no official instructions from Apple about the issue, but some users have posted on Mac forums some alternatives fixes to the hpPostScriptPDE.plugin message. Here are the steps that are suggested there.

  1. With Finder, navigate to the Library/LaunchAgents directory.
  2. Find the newest and most questionable-looking file and move it to the recycle bin.
  3. Do the same in the folder “Library / LaunchDemons”
  4. And the same for the “~Library/ LaunchAgents” directory.
  5. Go to “Applications”, filter the list to see the most recent aditions, then check for and delete questionable entries that have been introduced lately.
  6. Finally, to see if this solves the issue, restart your Mac.

Should you bypass the “hpPostScriptPDE.plugin will damage your computer” warning?

The message “hpPostScriptPDE.plugin will damage your computer” is not officially recognized as a false positive by Apple. Therefore, our recommendation is that the message should not be underestimated and bypassed without being addressed accordingly. It’s likely that something questionable might have been found by your MacOS, therefore, alerts from this kind should always be treated carefully if you want to ensure the safety of your machine.

How to bypass the warning message from Mac anyway?

A quick way to do so is to right-click the app and choose Free.

You’re going to get a “hpPostScriptPDE.plugin will damage your computer” warning, but you can still access the program.

Extra options to disable the Mac warning message:

  1. Find hpPostScriptPDE.plugin by using the Finder.
  2. Next, Control-Click on the app.
  3. Select Open using the shortcut menu. The software will be whitelisted from then on, and you can access it without getting the warning “MacOS can not check that this app is free of malware.”
  4. Another option to whitelist the software is to go to “Security & Privacy” and click on Open Anyway.

Note that the Open Anyway button is only accessible for an hour after you have attempted to access a blocked program. Use the following directory to navigate to it:

Apple Menu>>> System Preferences>>>Security & Privacy>>>General.

Is there a real risk to your Mac’s safety?

From all that we know, this HP framework does not represent a security risk and is most likely safe. Still, if not properly handled, it may lead to device exploits and vulnerabilities. Thus, we suggest scanning the Mac machine with a trustworthy anti-malware like ComboCleaner program that checks the entire system and eliminates potential threats or any files that may trigger potential problems.