I am on macOS version “Monterey” with a MacBookPro ca. mid-2015 that, in my case, becomes “vintage” next June, but right now and until next June it still, supposedly, fully supported in both software and hardware.
And I keep getting, now and then, a series of warnings in little boxes piled-up on top of each other, when I first start a session.
The boxes have messages telling me that several unspecified applications signed by this or that developer unknown to (I may know the name of the application, but not who the developer is, or how their apps. are signed) are no longer going to run on a new forthcoming version of macOS (for me I guess that would be “Ventura”, that probably comes out this October).
These warnings are not really an issue for me, as I am not going to be able to install “Ventura”, because my Mac, as any MacBook Pro of a model that came out earlier than 2017, does not qualify for “Ventura”, in departure to the above mentioned expected length of software support by Apple.
Apple never made that official, but has, in practice, been applying it for a very long time.
But, even though they are not really applicable to me, these pointless warnings are annoying.
Also, I imagine that others are getting the same messages and wondering about them.
Why annoying? Why wondering?
Because the way these warnings are worded, one does not know right away which are the applications that are going to die for those who are allowed to upgrade to “Ventura.”
Digging into this a bit, I came up with the following:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210999
“About system extensions and macOS
Some system extensions aren’t compatible with current versions of macOS or won’t be compatible with a future version of macOS. Learn what to do if you see an alert about system extensions or kernel extensions.
System extensions work in the background to extend the functionality of your Mac. Some apps install kernel extensions, or kexts—a kind of system extension that works using older methods that aren’t as secure or reliable as modern alternatives. Your Mac identifies these as legacy system extensions.
In 2019, Apple informed developers that macOS Catalina will be the last macOS to fully support legacy system extensions, and we’ve been working with developers to transition their software.
If you get an alert about a system extension
You may see an alert on your Mac that says that a program loaded or tried to load a system extension signed by the developer of that extension.
The alert may ask you to open Security & Privacy preferences to allow the extension. You may also need to restart your Mac.
The alert may ask you to contact the developer for support because the extension needs to be updated or will be incompatible with a future version of macOS.
The alert may inform you that it will damage your computer and has been blocked.
On a Mac with Apple silicon, you may first need to use Startup Security Utility to set the security policy to Reduced Security and select the “Allow user management of kernel extensions from identified developers”
System administrators can also use Mobile Device Management (MDM) to manage legacy system extensions.
If necessary, please contact the developer to learn whether an updated version of their software is available or planned. They may also be able to explain how to remove or disable the extension, and the consequences of doing so.
Technical details for developers are available in Deprecated Kernel Extensions and System Extension Alternatives.“
Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).
MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV
