Stop. Do not update. If you are on 3.73 or lower, do not install 3.74. If you are on 3.74, you are not stuck, but you are making your life harder.
One niche issue with the PS Vita 3.74 firmware is that Sony closed a loophole that allowed lower firmwares (like 3.60) to directly download games from the store without updating. Now, users on 3.60 must use a proxy or a plugin called iTLS-Enso to fix SSL certificate errors. On 3.74, you never have to worry about this. If you want a vanilla console that requires zero tinkering to buy games (until the store fully sunsets), 3.74 is your only choice. ps vita 3.74 firmware
For those shopping for a used Vita, here is how the firmwares stack up. Precautions:
| Feature | FW 3.60 (Golden) | FW 3.65 (Silver) | FW 3.74 (Final) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Permanent CFW (EnsÅ) | Yes (Native) | Yes (Manual Port) | No (Tethered only) | | PSN Access | Yes (via iTLS & spoofing) | Yes | Yes (Native) | | Ease of Hack | Trivial (Web exploit) | Moderate | Difficult (Requires PC & FinalHE) | | SD2Vita Support | Perfect | Perfect | Perfect (after hack) | | Homebrew Compatibility | 100% | 100% | 98% (Some old plugins fail) | you are not stuck
The 3.74 firmware also had implications for the homebrew and hacking community. The PS Vita had a thriving scene of developers and users interested in homebrew applications and custom firmware (CFW). The 3.74 update patched some of the exploits that were being used to install CFW and run homebrew software.
However, the resilience of the PS Vita homebrew community meant that users continued to find ways to exploit the system. Shortly after the 3.74 update, hackers and developers began working on methods to bypass its protections. The cat-and-mouse game between Sony's efforts to secure the PS Vita and the community's determination to push the system's capabilities would continue, albeit on a much smaller scale.