To understand the obsession, you have to understand the firmware. In the world of PS4 security, the "Holy Grail" is often considered to be Firmware 1.76. This was the firmware where the first major kernel exploits were discovered, allowing early hackers to run Linux and unauthorized code.
However, Firmware 1.30 (1.302) is part of that early, vulnerable era. It represents a time before Sony tightened the bolts on the PS4’s security architecture. For a modder, having a console on firmware 1.30 or 1.76 is like owning a house with the front door unlocked. The WebKit browser is unpatched, and the kernel is exposed.
Because 1.30 is so close to the exploitable 1.76, many users assume that if they could just "downgrade" their modern PS5 (running firmware 11.00 or higher) back to 1.30, they would have total control. This desire birthed the search for the "1302 UPD" file.
No. Initialization only wipes user data. The Syscon chip remains unchanged.
The search term "PS4 Downgrade 1302 UPD" is a magnet for scammers. Because the demand is so high, shady websites often host files claiming to be "Downgrader Tools."
These downloads are often one of two things: