Autostart Dark Pattern - Endpoint Security VPN for Mac

UPDATE: 2022/09/28

Recently the app began to autostart again. After some researching, I found a stackoverflow comment about another settings file, a setting called KeepAlive, and some more autostart files. The command below allows you to turn off the extra settings.

sudo plutil -replace KeepAlive -bool NO /Library/LaunchAgents/com.checkpoint.eps.gui.plist
sudo plutil -replace RunAtLoad -bool NO /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.checkpoint.epc.service.plist
sudo plutil -replace KeepAlive -bool NO /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.checkpoint.epc.service.plist

Then delete the checkpoint security "autostart" files for your user.

sudo rm -f /Users/${USER}/Library/LaunchAgents/net.pulsesecure.*

Original Post:

Ethically, every program that has autostart capabilities should have an easy to access setting that allows its users to prevent that behavior. Sadly this isn't the case with all software.

For example, I have been working with a client in my 9to5 that uses a software called "Endpoint Security VPN" by Checkpoint which does not provide autostart as an easily configurable setting. Luckily I have a easy solution.

First open up your terminal.

Copy & Paste the following command into your terminal to change it's hidden "autostart" setting.

sudo plutil -replace RunAtLoad -bool NO /Library/LaunchAgents/com.checkpoint.eps.gui.plist

Kill the program so the changes take affect.

pkill -f "Endpoint Security VPN"

Enjoy your reduced boot time! make


Posted on 2022-07-25