PSPSlimHacks

Ok so PS Vita Firmware 1.51 was just released. *Cough* I mean forced released… Yup, Wololo has also posted that the PS Vita has forced/compulsory firmware updates. PS Vita Firmware 1.51 is now live and if you don’t update you can’t use the content manager feature. So no moving files from or too your PS Vita. That’s rather major and the content manager is a key feature of the PSV. Clever Sony right? And it doesn’t stop there. It seems Sony is also spying on its PS Vita users. Its possible according to Wololo that Sony collects data of what files your moving on and off your PS Vita…. Naughty Sony, I’m not sure this tis very legal. Maybe it is in Japan? Certainly not where I live. There is some good news in this patch.  It does not patch the tech4 save game exploit. Despite what some other PSP sites might say.

From Wololo:

A friendly advice to anybody who tries to “investigate” the Vita like I do: install the content manager on a PC that has no network connection (Update: I think “bastards” is the first word that came to my mouth when I saw that the vita refuses to connect to the PC if the Pc is not connected to the internet. This is really really concerning, and I hope a few people will have a look at the code of the PC “content manager” client. I’d be extremely happy to know why Sony is spying on me through the content manager when I’m copying my porn movies to the vita…), and disconnect the Vita as well. It seems Sony has a possibility to prevent anyone from playing with the Content Manager too much. This also confirms that the PSP Exploit we’re working on is more or less moot, since as soon as it is made public, Sony will prevent people from copying the files to their Vita with an obligatory firmware update.

This is really twisted, and I could swear a compulsory update in order to use such a core feature of the console might be illegal in some countries…we’re far from the “you have a choice to stop using linux” here, it’s more of a “you have a choice to stop copying mp3 and movies from and to the console”.

http://pspslimhacks.com/ps-vita-forced-firmware-updates-and-spying/

http://wololo.net/wagic/2011/12/27/ps-vita-compulsory-system-update-1-510/

At least let a console settle down before trying to hack it. It's like people don't want to bother paying for their games anymore.

They try to rob the "Big evil cooperation" and then bitch and moan when the co operation try to protect their investments...

I am pretty sure that the available "hacks" do not allow PSVita games to be pirated. They allow homebrew to be loaded on the device.

Also I am glad you are alright with your information possibly being relayed to these poor poor helpless multibillion dollar corporations.

Let's be honest, if the hackers keep going at it, it's inevitable.

I'm not saying the co operations aren't rich but let's not pretend these hackers are heroic and selfless.

Looking at the sales numbers... this doesn't affect many people...

*hears: Run NiKKoM Run!*

Keep away from my porn Sony! I don't want you to know my fetishes!

The article writer is paranoid. You need the latest firmware update some games, PSN access and content manager access (via PC or PS3).

Now all three of these features require the latest firmware for a reason
-- Some games use new features added in firmware X, without those features you will break the game.
-- SONY wants to minimize PSN exploits so requiring the latest firmware update is reasonable.
-- Content Manager, rather than dealing with individual flags for each game to specify the device and firmware version required to play, SONY elected to just flag each system and require that you have the latest firmware update. It is a content manager optimization that has the secondary effect of improving security. Ofcourse SONY is taking advantage of this!

As for the spying thing. That is speculation and fun fact - IF SONY is recording data on what you transfer on and off PS Vita it will be basic data eg. Video file, Game file, Music file, Unknown file.

This is probably first and foremost an anti piracy feature but depending how closely they monitor it could be rather annoying when I try to read my comics... (which I own and scanned them all to convert them to digital for my own personal use *cough* *cough*)

OMG SONY FORCES YOU TO KEEP YOUR SYSTEM UP TO DATE OMG OMG OMG.

How did this make the news? Every consoles forces system updates. If you don't update, you don't play online.

Oh noes, forced firmware updates?

The Wii has enforced firmware updates or you can't play games. There was no outcry then, why is there now?

As for spying? That is quite dodgy.