diff --git a/core/hw/naomi/printer.cpp b/core/hw/naomi/printer.cpp
index 0b38efb45..6bb09da62 100644
--- a/core/hw/naomi/printer.cpp
+++ b/core/hw/naomi/printer.cpp
@@ -308,6 +308,8 @@ public:
 	}
 	bool save(const std::string& filename)
 	{
+		if (page.empty())
+			return false;
 		for (u8& b : page)
 			b = 0xff - b;
 		stbi_write_png(filename.c_str(), printerWidth, lines, 1, &page[0], printerWidth);
@@ -318,7 +320,7 @@ public:
 	{
 		ser << printerWidth;
 		ser << (u32)page.size();
-		ser.serialize(&page[0], page.size());
+		ser.serialize(page.data(), page.size());
 		ser << lines;
 		ser << penx;
 		ser << peny;
@@ -342,11 +344,11 @@ public:
 			ser << cc.width;
 			ser << cc.height;
 			ser << (u32)cc.data.size();
-			ser.serialize(&cc.data[0], cc.data.size());
+			ser.serialize(cc.data.data(), cc.data.size());
 		}
 
 		ser << (u32)ruledLine.size();
-		ser.serialize(&ruledLine[0], ruledLine.size());
+		ser.serialize(ruledLine.data(), ruledLine.size());
 		ser << ruledLineMode;
 		ser << underline;
 		ser << maxUnderline;
@@ -357,7 +359,7 @@ public:
 		u32 size;
 		deser >> size;
 		page.resize(size);
-		deser.deserialize(&page[0], page.size());
+		deser.deserialize(page.data(), page.size());
 		deser >> lines;
 		deser >> penx;
 		deser >> peny;
@@ -383,12 +385,12 @@ public:
 			deser >> cc.height;
 			deser >> size;
 			cc.data.resize(size);
-			deser.deserialize(&cc.data[0], cc.data.size());
+			deser.deserialize(cc.data.data(), cc.data.size());
 		}
 
 		deser >> size;
 		ruledLine.resize(size);
-		deser.deserialize(&ruledLine[0], ruledLine.size());
+		deser.deserialize(ruledLine.data(), ruledLine.size());
 		deser >> ruledLineMode;
 		deser >> underline;
 		deser >> maxUnderline;
@@ -655,7 +657,7 @@ public:
 		ser << expectedDataBytes;
 
 		ser << (u32)dataBytes.size();
-		ser.serialize(&dataBytes[0], dataBytes.size());
+		ser.serialize(dataBytes.data(), dataBytes.size());
 
 		ser << kanji;
 		ser << kanjiByte0;
@@ -666,7 +668,7 @@ public:
 			ser << bm.width;
 			ser << bm.height;
 			ser << (u32)bm.data.size();
-			ser.serialize(&bm.data[0], bm.data.size());
+			ser.serialize(bm.data.data(), bm.data.size());
 		}
 
 		if (bitmapWriter == nullptr)
@@ -688,7 +690,7 @@ public:
 		u32 size;
 		deser >> size;
 		dataBytes.resize(size);
-		deser.deserialize(&dataBytes[0], dataBytes.size());
+		deser.deserialize(dataBytes.data(), dataBytes.size());
 
 		deser >> kanji;
 		deser >> kanjiByte0;
@@ -701,7 +703,7 @@ public:
 			deser >> bm.height;
 			deser >> size;
 			bm.data.resize(size);
-			deser.deserialize(&bm.data[0], bm.data.size());
+			deser.deserialize(bm.data.data(), bm.data.size());
 		}
 
 		bool b;
diff --git a/core/hw/pvr/ta_util.cpp b/core/hw/pvr/ta_util.cpp
index 1bb61382f..3c878918a 100644
--- a/core/hw/pvr/ta_util.cpp
+++ b/core/hw/pvr/ta_util.cpp
@@ -367,8 +367,10 @@ void fix_texture_bleeding(const std::vector<PolyParam>& polys, int first, int en
 //
 void makePrimRestartIndex(std::vector<PolyParam>& polys, int first, int end, bool merge, rend_context& ctx)
 {
+	if (first >= (int)polys.size())
+		return;
 	PolyParam *last_poly = nullptr;
-	const PolyParam *end_poly = &polys[end];
+	const PolyParam *end_poly = polys.data() + end;
 	for (PolyParam *poly = &polys[first]; poly != end_poly; poly++)
 	{
 		int first_index;
@@ -447,8 +449,10 @@ void makePrimRestartIndex(std::vector<PolyParam>& polys, int first, int end, boo
 //
 void makeIndex(std::vector<PolyParam>& polys, int first, int end, bool merge, rend_context& ctx)
 {
+	if (first >= (int)polys.size())
+		return;
 	PolyParam *last_poly = nullptr;
-	const PolyParam *end_poly = &polys[end];
+	const PolyParam *end_poly = polys.data() + end;
 	bool cullingReversed = false;
 	for (PolyParam *poly = &polys[first]; poly != end_poly; poly++)
 	{
diff --git a/core/rend/boxart/http_client.cpp b/core/rend/boxart/http_client.cpp
index 2efac6218..d68db142f 100644
--- a/core/rend/boxart/http_client.cpp
+++ b/core/rend/boxart/http_client.cpp
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ int post(const std::string& url, const std::vector<PostField>& fields)
 				return 500;
 			}
 			fclose(f);
-			content += std::string(&data[0], size);
+			content += std::string(data.data(), size);
 		}
 		content += "\r\n";
 	}
diff --git a/core/rend/dx11/dx11_renderer.cpp b/core/rend/dx11/dx11_renderer.cpp
index 495dfa815..d865b93c8 100644
--- a/core/rend/dx11/dx11_renderer.cpp
+++ b/core/rend/dx11/dx11_renderer.cpp
@@ -361,19 +361,19 @@ void DX11Renderer::uploadGeometryBuffers()
 {
 	setFirstProvokingVertex(pvrrc);
 
-	size_t size = pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.verts[0]));
+	size_t size = pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.verts.data()));
 	bool rc = ensureBufferSize(vertexBuffer, D3D11_BIND_VERTEX_BUFFER, vertexBufferSize, size);
 	verify(rc);
 	D3D11_MAPPED_SUBRESOURCE mappedSubres;
 	deviceContext->Map(vertexBuffer, 0, D3D11_MAP_WRITE_DISCARD, 0, &mappedSubres);
-	memcpy(mappedSubres.pData, &pvrrc.verts[0], size);
+	memcpy(mappedSubres.pData, pvrrc.verts.data(), size);
 	deviceContext->Unmap(vertexBuffer, 0);
 
-	size = pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.idx[0]));
+	size = pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.idx.data()));
 	rc = ensureBufferSize(indexBuffer, D3D11_BIND_INDEX_BUFFER, indexBufferSize, size);
 	verify(rc);
 	deviceContext->Map(indexBuffer, 0, D3D11_MAP_WRITE_DISCARD, 0, &mappedSubres);
-	memcpy(mappedSubres.pData, &pvrrc.idx[0], size);
+	memcpy(mappedSubres.pData, pvrrc.idx.data(), size);
 	deviceContext->Unmap(indexBuffer, 0);
 
 	if (config::ModifierVolumes && !pvrrc.modtrig.empty())
diff --git a/core/rend/dx11/oit/dx11_oitrenderer.cpp b/core/rend/dx11/oit/dx11_oitrenderer.cpp
index 757eaa6fc..0267c1301 100644
--- a/core/rend/dx11/oit/dx11_oitrenderer.cpp
+++ b/core/rend/dx11/oit/dx11_oitrenderer.cpp
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ struct DX11OITRenderer : public DX11Renderer
 
 			drawList<ListType_Opaque, false, DX11OITShaders::Depth>(pvrrc.global_param_op, previous_pass.op_count, op_count);
 			drawList<ListType_Punch_Through, false, DX11OITShaders::Depth>(pvrrc.global_param_pt, previous_pass.pt_count, pt_count);
-			drawModVols<false>(previous_pass.mvo_count, mvo_count, &pvrrc.global_param_mvo[0]);
+			drawModVols<false>(previous_pass.mvo_count, mvo_count, pvrrc.global_param_mvo.data());
 
 			//
 			// PASS 2: Render OP and PT to opaque render target
@@ -575,9 +575,9 @@ struct DX11OITRenderer : public DX11Renderer
 			    {
 			    	// Intel Iris Plus 640 just crashes
 			    	if (current_pass.mv_op_tr_shared)
-			    		drawModVols<true>(previous_pass.mvo_count, mvo_count, &pvrrc.global_param_mvo[0]);
+			    		drawModVols<true>(previous_pass.mvo_count, mvo_count, pvrrc.global_param_mvo.data());
 			    	else
-			    		drawModVols<true>(previous_pass.mvo_tr_count, current_pass.mvo_tr_count - previous_pass.mvo_tr_count, &pvrrc.global_param_mvo_tr[0]);
+			    		drawModVols<true>(previous_pass.mvo_tr_count, current_pass.mvo_tr_count - previous_pass.mvo_tr_count, pvrrc.global_param_mvo_tr.data());
 			    }
 			}
 			else
diff --git a/core/rend/dx9/d3d_renderer.cpp b/core/rend/dx9/d3d_renderer.cpp
index 36f455f42..e69dae12d 100644
--- a/core/rend/dx9/d3d_renderer.cpp
+++ b/core/rend/dx9/d3d_renderer.cpp
@@ -1009,20 +1009,20 @@ bool D3DRenderer::Render()
 	v[1] = -1.f;
 	device->SetClipPlane(3, v);
 
-	size_t size = pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.verts[0]));
+	size_t size = pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.verts.data()));
 	rc = ensureVertexBufferSize(vertexBuffer, vertexBufferSize, size);
 	verify(rc);
 	void *ptr;
 	rc = SUCCEEDED(vertexBuffer->Lock(0, size, &ptr, D3DLOCK_DISCARD));
 	verify(rc);
-	memcpy(ptr, &pvrrc.verts[0], size);
+	memcpy(ptr, pvrrc.verts.data(), size);
 	vertexBuffer->Unlock();
-	size = pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.idx[0]));
+	size = pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.idx.data()));
 	rc = ensureIndexBufferSize(indexBuffer, indexBufferSize, size);
 	verify(rc);
 	rc = SUCCEEDED(indexBuffer->Lock(0, size, &ptr, D3DLOCK_DISCARD));
 	verify(rc);
-	memcpy(ptr, &pvrrc.idx[0], size);
+	memcpy(ptr, pvrrc.idx.data(), size);
 	indexBuffer->Unlock();
 
 	if (config::ModifierVolumes && !pvrrc.modtrig.empty())
diff --git a/core/rend/gl4/gles.cpp b/core/rend/gl4/gles.cpp
index 1772b22eb..413d175cf 100644
--- a/core/rend/gl4/gles.cpp
+++ b/core/rend/gl4/gles.cpp
@@ -875,12 +875,12 @@ bool OpenGL4Renderer::renderFrame(int width, int height)
 	{
 		//Main VBO
 		//move vertex to gpu
-		gl4.vbo.getVertexBuffer()->update(&pvrrc.verts[0], pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.verts[0])));
-		gl4.vbo.getIndexBuffer()->update(&pvrrc.idx[0], pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.idx[0])));
+		gl4.vbo.getVertexBuffer()->update(pvrrc.verts.data(), pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.verts.data())));
+		gl4.vbo.getIndexBuffer()->update(pvrrc.idx.data(), pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.idx.data())));
 
 		//Modvol VBO
 		if (!pvrrc.modtrig.empty())
-			gl4.vbo.getModVolBuffer()->update(&pvrrc.modtrig[0], pvrrc.modtrig.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.modtrig[0])));
+			gl4.vbo.getModVolBuffer()->update(pvrrc.modtrig.data(), pvrrc.modtrig.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.modtrig.data())));
 
 		// TR PolyParam data
 		if (!pvrrc.global_param_tr.empty())
diff --git a/core/rend/gles/gles.cpp b/core/rend/gles/gles.cpp
index 3b083c79e..9ff78586d 100644
--- a/core/rend/gles/gles.cpp
+++ b/core/rend/gles/gles.cpp
@@ -1142,10 +1142,10 @@ static void upload_vertex_indices()
 		short_idx.reserve(pvrrc.idx.size());
 		for (u32 i : pvrrc.idx)
 			short_idx.push_back(i);
-		gl.vbo.idxs->update(&short_idx[0], short_idx.size() * sizeof(u16));
+		gl.vbo.idxs->update(short_idx.data(), short_idx.size() * sizeof(u16));
 	}
 	else
-		gl.vbo.idxs->update(&pvrrc.idx[0], pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.idx[0])));
+		gl.vbo.idxs->update(pvrrc.idx.data(), pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.idx.data())));
 	glCheck();
 }
 
diff --git a/core/rend/vulkan/buffer.h b/core/rend/vulkan/buffer.h
index 2f199f28e..4f443a75e 100644
--- a/core/rend/vulkan/buffer.h
+++ b/core/rend/vulkan/buffer.h
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ public:
 
 	void upload(BufferData& bufferData, u32 bufOffset = 0)
 	{
-		bufferData.upload(chunks.size(), &chunkSizes[0], &chunks[0], bufOffset);
+		if (!chunks.empty())
+			bufferData.upload(chunks.size(), &chunkSizes[0], &chunks[0], bufOffset);
 	}
 
 	vk::DeviceSize size() const {
diff --git a/core/rend/vulkan/drawer.cpp b/core/rend/vulkan/drawer.cpp
index 964dbadf3..96e5d8538 100644
--- a/core/rend/vulkan/drawer.cpp
+++ b/core/rend/vulkan/drawer.cpp
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ void Drawer::DrawList(const vk::CommandBuffer& cmdBuffer, u32 listType, bool sor
 {
 	if (first == last)
 		return;
-	const PolyParam *pp_end = &polys[last];
+	const PolyParam *pp_end = polys.data() + last;
 	for (const PolyParam *pp = &polys[first]; pp != pp_end; pp++)
 		if (pp->count > 2)
 			DrawPoly(cmdBuffer, listType, sortTriangles, *pp, pp->first, pp->count);
@@ -328,11 +328,11 @@ void Drawer::UploadMainBuffer(const VertexShaderUniforms& vertexUniforms, const
 	BufferPacker packer;
 
 	// Vertex
-	packer.add(&pvrrc.verts[0], pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.verts[0])));
+	packer.add(pvrrc.verts.data(), pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.verts.data())));
 	// Modifier Volumes
-	offsets.modVolOffset = packer.add(&pvrrc.modtrig[0], pvrrc.modtrig.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.modtrig[0])));
+	offsets.modVolOffset = packer.add(pvrrc.modtrig.data(), pvrrc.modtrig.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.modtrig.data())));
 	// Index
-	offsets.indexOffset = packer.add(&pvrrc.idx[0], pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.idx[0])));
+	offsets.indexOffset = packer.add(pvrrc.idx.data(), pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.idx.data())));
 	// Uniform buffers
 	offsets.vertexUniformOffset = packer.addUniform(&vertexUniforms, sizeof(vertexUniforms));
 	offsets.fragmentUniformOffset = packer.addUniform(&fragmentUniforms, sizeof(fragmentUniforms));
diff --git a/core/rend/vulkan/drawer.h b/core/rend/vulkan/drawer.h
index 17c385f16..863d74d9f 100644
--- a/core/rend/vulkan/drawer.h
+++ b/core/rend/vulkan/drawer.h
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ protected:
 		vk::DeviceSize offset = -1;
 
 		size_t n2LightSize = sizeof(N2LightModel) + align(sizeof(N2LightModel), GetContext()->GetUniformBufferAlignment());
-		if (n2LightSize == sizeof(N2LightModel))
+		if (n2LightSize == sizeof(N2LightModel) && !pvrrc.lightModels.empty())
 		{
 			offset = packer.addUniform(&pvrrc.lightModels[0], pvrrc.lightModels.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.lightModels[0])));
 		}
diff --git a/core/rend/vulkan/oit/oit_drawer.cpp b/core/rend/vulkan/oit/oit_drawer.cpp
index 9151117f0..54ff60c0f 100644
--- a/core/rend/vulkan/oit/oit_drawer.cpp
+++ b/core/rend/vulkan/oit/oit_drawer.cpp
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ void OITDrawer::DrawList(const vk::CommandBuffer& cmdBuffer, u32 listType, bool
 {
 	if (first == last)
 		return;
-	const PolyParam *pp_end = &polys[last];
+	const PolyParam *pp_end = polys.data() + last;
 	for (const PolyParam *pp = &polys[first]; pp != pp_end; pp++)
 		if (pp->count > 2)
 			DrawPoly(cmdBuffer, listType, sortTriangles, pass, *pp, pp->first, pp->count);
@@ -216,11 +216,11 @@ void OITDrawer::UploadMainBuffer(const OITDescriptorSets::VertexShaderUniforms&
 	BufferPacker packer;
 
 	// Vertex
-	packer.add(&pvrrc.verts[0], pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.verts[0])));
+	packer.add(pvrrc.verts.data(), pvrrc.verts.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.verts.data())));
 	// Modifier Volumes
-	offsets.modVolOffset = packer.add(&pvrrc.modtrig[0], pvrrc.modtrig.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.modtrig[0])));
+	offsets.modVolOffset = packer.add(pvrrc.modtrig.data(), pvrrc.modtrig.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.modtrig.data())));
 	// Index
-	offsets.indexOffset = packer.add(&pvrrc.idx[0], pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(pvrrc.idx[0])));
+	offsets.indexOffset = packer.add(pvrrc.idx.data(), pvrrc.idx.size() * sizeof(decltype(*pvrrc.idx.data())));
 	// Uniform buffers
 	offsets.vertexUniformOffset = packer.addUniform(&vertexUniforms, sizeof(vertexUniforms));
 	offsets.fragmentUniformOffset = packer.addUniform(&fragmentUniforms, sizeof(fragmentUniforms));
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ bool OITDrawer::Draw(const Texture *fogTexture, const Texture *paletteTexture)
 			DrawList(cmdBuffer, ListType_Opaque, false, Pass::Depth, pvrrc.global_param_op, previous_pass.op_count, current_pass.op_count);
 			DrawList(cmdBuffer, ListType_Punch_Through, false, Pass::Depth, pvrrc.global_param_pt, previous_pass.pt_count, current_pass.pt_count);
 
-			DrawModifierVolumes<false>(cmdBuffer, previous_pass.mvo_count, current_pass.mvo_count - previous_pass.mvo_count, &pvrrc.global_param_mvo[0]);
+			DrawModifierVolumes<false>(cmdBuffer, previous_pass.mvo_count, current_pass.mvo_count - previous_pass.mvo_count, pvrrc.global_param_mvo.data());
 
 			// Color subpass
 			cmdBuffer.nextSubpass(vk::SubpassContents::eInline);
@@ -403,9 +403,9 @@ bool OITDrawer::Draw(const Texture *fogTexture, const Texture *paletteTexture)
 		if (GetContext()->GetVendorID() != VulkanContext::VENDOR_QUALCOMM)	// Adreno bug
 		{
 			if (current_pass.mv_op_tr_shared)
-				DrawModifierVolumes<true>(cmdBuffer, previous_pass.mvo_count, current_pass.mvo_count - previous_pass.mvo_count, &pvrrc.global_param_mvo[0]);
+				DrawModifierVolumes<true>(cmdBuffer, previous_pass.mvo_count, current_pass.mvo_count - previous_pass.mvo_count, pvrrc.global_param_mvo.data());
 			else
-				DrawModifierVolumes<true>(cmdBuffer, previous_pass.mvo_tr_count, current_pass.mvo_tr_count - previous_pass.mvo_tr_count, &pvrrc.global_param_mvo_tr[0]);
+				DrawModifierVolumes<true>(cmdBuffer, previous_pass.mvo_tr_count, current_pass.mvo_tr_count - previous_pass.mvo_tr_count, pvrrc.global_param_mvo_tr.data());
 		}
 
 		vk::Pipeline pipeline = pipelineManager->GetFinalPipeline();
diff --git a/core/stdclass.h b/core/stdclass.h
index 2cd9b7efe..aa6583314 100644
--- a/core/stdclass.h
+++ b/core/stdclass.h
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ public:
 
 	template<typename T>
 	MD5Sum& add(const std::vector<T>& v) {
-		MD5_Update(&ctx, &v[0], (unsigned long)(v.size() * sizeof(T)));
+		MD5_Update(&ctx, v.data(), (unsigned long)(v.size() * sizeof(T)));
 		return *this;
 	}