Having to enable system extensions for T7 Shield?

[Bodhitree]

I was just wondering: in order to read a password-protected T7 Shield SSD, you need to install a system extension. To do that, you need to enable system extensions. To do that, you need to first boot into protected mode…

I mean, it sounds like a bad idea? I don’t particularly like the thought of kernel extensions sitting there, being hard to uninstall, potentially causing system instability, and disabling some of the protections around macOS.

 

[chrfr]

I was just wondering: in order to read a password-protected T7 Shield SSD, you need to install a system extension. To do that, you need to enable system extensions. To do that, you need to first boot into protected mode…

I mean, it sounds like a bad idea? I don’t particularly like the thought of kernel extensions sitting there, being hard to uninstall, potentially causing system instability, and disabling some of the protections around macOS.

If the drive will only ever be used on a Mac, use FileVault instead of Samsung’s software, and you won’t have to install any third party software to use the disk.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Erase it as APFS (Encrypted) and you're good to go.

 

[Bodhitree]

Apparently you can also switch off Security Mode on the drive, if you have a PC or Mac which already has the drivers installed and you have the password. After that it functions like an ordinary drive. Since I was enquiring for a friend, I got him to install the drivers and fix the issue that way, figuring there was no need for most people to password-protect their drives.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Are you talking about the proprietary Samsung software that comes pre-installed on the t7?

If so, I wouldn't use it.
In fact, the first thing I did was to erase the ENTIRE drive to a Mac format using disk utility, and "start from scratch".

 

[chrfr]

Apparently you can also switch off Security Mode on the drive, if you have a PC or Mac which already has the drivers installed and you have the password. After that it functions like an ordinary drive. Since I was enquiring for a friend, I got him to install the drivers and fix the issue that way, figuring there was no need for most people to password-protect their drives.

Yes, if you aren't using the encryption you don't need Samsung's software.

 

[Bodhitree]

OP:

Are you talking about the proprietary Samsung software that comes pre-installed on the t7?

If so, I wouldn't use it.
In fact, the first thing I did was to erase the ENTIRE drive to a Mac format using disk utility, and "start from scratch".

Yes, I was talking about “that” software. My friend casually added a password to his new drive, not realising that doing so would render the drive unreadable by anyone who didn’t install Samsung’s drivers. We have sorted it out now.