Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified

 

“Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified”

“Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” is a Mac error that users who have updated their macOS to Catalina tend to experience. According to researchers, the Mac “Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” error is caused by the stricter security standards macOS Catalina has, which may detect malware.

If you have recently started experiencing this error, there are two possible scenarios. The first, and the more preferable one, is that the error appears on your screen when you try to run a given app that doesn’t meet the security standards of the new macOS version. However, the other possible scenario is that there’s indeed hidden malware in your Mac that is somehow related to the app that can’t be opened.

For example, users commonly get the “Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” Mac error when they try to run the Terraform tool. Terraform is an open-source coding tool that is used by many customers and is not harmful in and of itself. However, it isn’t excluded that some malware program may have hijacked it or may be trying to mimic it in order to trick the user. Therefore, it is important to not ignore this error and check your system for any potential threats if you are getting the Mac “Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” error. In the malware removal guide right below this article, you will find some helpful instructions that will show you the way you can check your Mac for any harmful programs and remove them in a safe manner. If the instructions are confusing or if you like things done automatically, you can also make use of the suggested removal app that has been tested against different types of malware and should be able to help you against most potential threats.

“Mac cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” Fix

There is a way to make your Mac ignore the discrepancy between its security standards and the security levels of the app you are trying to run. This will prevent the “Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” error from showing up again for the specific app but be warned: opening the application that’s giving the error may result in exposing your computer to different hazards, so proceed at your own discretion. Here is how you can override the warning:

1. Open Finder and search for the app that’s giving you the error.
2. Control-click on the selected application and then, from the Shortcut menu, select Open.
3. Now click on Open and your app should now start and be saved as an exception.

Now, if you want to check if there is any hidden malware in your computer (which we advise you to do), proceed to the following guide and carefully execute the steps listed there. 

SUMMARY:

Name	Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified
Type	Browser Hijacker (potentially)
Detection Tool

Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified Uninstall

You are dealing with a malware infection that can restore itself unless you remove its core files. We are sending you to another page with a removal guide that gets regularly updated. It covers in-depth instructions on how to:
1. Locate and scan malicious processes in your task manager.
2. Identify in your Control panel any programs installed with the malware, and how to remove them. Search Marquis is a high-profile hijacker that gets installed with a lot of malware.
3. How to clean up and reset your browser to its original settings without the malware returning.
You can find the removal guide here.
For mobile devices refer to these guides instead: Android, iPhone