"Tamper Resistant" iPhone Easily Opened With $10 Tool

 By 
Charlie White
 on 
"Tamper Resistant" iPhone Easily Opened With $10 Tool
Mashable Image
Credit:

As soon as they heard the news of Apple's tighter security on its iPhone 4, do-it-yourselfers were fretting that they could only gain entry into the device using an expensive screwdriver that was hard to find.

That's when specialty toolmaker ifixit sprang into action, offering an iPhone 4 Liberation Kit that can easily conquer the tamper-resistant pentalobe screws in short order. The kit includes a screwdriver that can remove those pesky pentalobes, and then ifixit helpfully adds conventional Philips screws and a screwdriver to install them in your iPhone 4.

According to the quick-reacting toolmakers at ifixit:

"This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn’t a single reputable supplier that sells exactly the same screwdrivers Apple’s technicians use—which is Apple’s point. They picked an obscure head that no one would have."

Ifixit said any new iPhone 4 is now shipping with these "evil screws," adding that if you take your iPhone in for service, Apple will replace the current screws with these new, nearly impenetrable ones.

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!