Yes. Legitimate HP files do NOT belong in System32. Run a full antivirus scan immediately – this is a classic malware hiding spot.
Because hpbq138.exe sounds technical and obscure, malware authors often use similar filenames to disguise their payloads. Cybercriminals know that users are less likely to kill a process that looks like a driver or update tool. hpbq138.exe
You might see this file if:
While the legitimate file is safe, malware authors often name their viruses after legitimate system files to avoid detection. hpbq138.exe