From the
Connector Conspiracy files. When
They say
no user serviceable parts inside, They mean it!
Special screws that are designed to be tamper-proof, used to prevent dismantling things in unguarded public places or protect tinkerers from themselves. The bane of hackers everywhere.
Types of screws
- Torx™
-
Used to be a tamperproof screw due to the rarity and price of T-nn driver bits, now as common as Robertsons
- Torx pinhead
-
AKA Resistorx™. Like a regular Torx but with a pin on the center that prevents a regular bit from entering. A drill table and 3/32" metal drill bit could be used to machine a regular Torx to defeat it. I've been able to remove them with a small slotted screwdriver wedged between the center pin and in two of the torx grooves.
- TORXplus
-
A five-lobed TORX-like pattern with a pin on the center. Evil*.
- Phillips Pinhead
-
Like Torx pinhead, machining a regular Philips bit.
- Hex Pinhead
-
See Torx pinhead machining.
- Snake-eyes
-
Twin holes on a flat screw head. Defeat with two nails held in vise grip pliers.
- One-way slotted
-
Two half-moons shapes on top of each other, a regular slotted screwdriver grabs on the straight edges to fasten but slips on the sloped side. One-way slotted are used in LOTS of public restrooms --czeano. Evil*.
- Oval shaped machine screws
-
If not recessed, a good pair of pliers can bite on the screw head and remove it.
- Tri-Wing™
-
Like a 3-sided Philips head. Evil*.
- Triangle
-
Simply a triangular shape. A hex wrench should be able to grab on to 3 of the 6 sides. Seen on McDonald's happy meal toys.
- Breakaways
A regular hex nut that breaks off a flat circular head. EEEEEeevil*!
- Robertson
-
A square shape. Evil Canadian Conspiracy: screwdrivers are extremely rare and can only be bought at the Canadian Tire in Yellowknife, Yukon.
* Those evil undefeatable screws have to be destroyed with a metal drill bit. m4k1t4 r001z!