After Effects Error: BSKLCompanion Plug-in Issue (Not Installed)

Issue Summary:

I’m experiencing a critical issue with After Effects (both Beta and regular versions) on my Mac. Every time I try to launch the application, I get the error: “BSKLCompanion plug-in generated an unexpected exception.” However, I don’t have the BSKLCompanion plug-in installed, so I’m unsure why this error is occurring.

What I’ve Tried:

1. Checked my system for any files related to BSKLCompanion—found nothing.
2. Reset After Effects preferences on startup.
3. Cleared the cache and media files.
4. Updated After Effects to the latest version through Creative Cloud.
5. Uninstalled and reinstalled After Effects (both Beta and normal versions).
6. Confirmed that no other plug-ins are installed that could cause conflicts.

System Info:

• Device: Mac (M1 Pro, 32GB RAM)
• OS: macOS Ventura (latest version)
• After Effects Version: Both Beta and regular (latest versions via Creative Cloud)

Key Questions:

• Could this error be caused by a hidden system file or process that After Effects is trying to access?
• Are there any additional steps to locate and resolve this plug-in-related issue?
• Has anyone encountered this issue without having the BSKLCompanion plug-in installed?

Any insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!