http://www.coopertools.com/catalog/pdffiles/TC-100_EN.pdf

This is a time delay tactic for a thieve who come with his tamper prove set to steal that flat screen or projector only to get his plan foiled by a penta pin security screw. Witch at first glance looks like your standard hex or six point screw.

With the cops on there way or get carried away with there effort to steal they leave prints. Get caught on camera.

Another application are million dollar CAT scans that have warrantees and service contracts and they don’t want the average DIY or superintendent of the hospital to try and change setting or replace a part.

I have seen them in places were tampering was accruing with standard security screws but once they where traded up to high security screws and some Lock Tite the game was over.

Delay tactic is number one.

The other is that most people will just give up.

That set of security bits on the brycefsatener website can be had at harbor freight for just a few bucks.

That is the HF security bit set. The entire point is that you can get most of the common “security” bits for next to nothing nowadays, so you should buy our new stuff instead.

Some of them look effective, but the pentagonal bolt heads would easily be defeated by, oh say, a gator-grip or similar (if it actually took enough torque for once).

I’m pretty sure Harbor Freight has a similar set, as Teacher pointed out.

cl

The more reference of names, types and charts that are made to security bits the less security they offer.

Security through obscurity is false security — many “tamper resistent” screws can be defeated with lock pliers; virtually all others with a dremel and flat-head screwdriver as already noted. Or just drill them out. If you don’t want to damage them, then it’s tricker, but wax molds and access to the right tools will defeat any security screw, even the custom ones (as referenced previously).

Ultimately, the idea is to keep casual attempts away; and obscurity doesn’t really help there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

I did once see a reference guide to allot of the bits but of course there is an endless amount of variation people can come up with and the list will forever grow.

I have got a nice collection of bits that I needed and got over the past few years, costing over $1,000 collectively! The rarer they are the more they seem to cost.

So how do you find it when you need it? Allot of goggling. Never found a screw they I could not find the bit to yet.

If you only need it for a few screws, most of the time you can grip it with a vise grip and turn it. Or cut a slot in it with a dremmel and remove it with a flat head screw driver

The more reference of names, types and charts that are made to security bits the less security they offer. One day you might be the one trying to make something tamper proof and you don’t one everyone to mess with it.

I do understand that for many applications you don’t want people taking the covers off public or private property and such, or that some applications need a type of bit that can handle a higher torque. But there is no reason to use a security screw just so I can’t take apart my handheld video game or kid’s toy. I subscribe to the school of thought that if I can’t take it apart I don’t really own it. I think the Maker’s Bill Of Rights says it best.

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/11/owners_manifest.html
MAKE: Blog: Owner’s Manifesto

In the examples provided in this article and the comments, there are many that I’ve never seen before (esp. Bryce) and as the article title implies, if you don’t even know what some of these are called, how do you find the bits you would need?

http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/719collect.htm

The torq-set bit looks more like something that may aid in manufacturing - maybe allowing easier assembly, less cam-out etc.

Back when my children were growing up - and video games were new - I recall game boxes having line-head screws (both internal and external)
http://www.etool.ca/RENDER/1/26/170/4301.html

There also variants of torx (and torx align) fasteners that have a center pin to make them tamper resistant. The same goes for hex (we used to call these Allen socket heads) and Phillips bits that have center holes to accomodate fasteners with so called anti-tamper pins