

Apple doesn't want to let you inside your iPhone, even if all you want to do is fix it.

That's what repair company iFixit claims, at least. The company recently discovered that Apple has quietly switched the screws in the latest shipments of the iPhone 4 from a basic Phillips head to a tamper-resistant screw that you can't remove with any screwdriver you'd buy at a hardware store.

The screw in question is called a "Pentalobe" (see right), a five-point head with a round shape resembling a daisy.

"They chose this 'Pentalobe' fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive," said Kyle Wiens, iFixit's CEO. "The iPhone 4 originally shipped with Phillips screws, but Apple has transitioned completely to this new security screw. Shame on them."

It's not unusual for manufacturers to use obscure screws and strict software security on their products to prevent people from tampering with their devices.

Sometimes tamper-resistance is designed for protecting company profits. In the case of software, Sony, for example, baked extra-strict security into the PlayStation 3's operating system, which hackers recently infiltrated to install pirated software on the console. In a lawsuit, Sony asked a court to remove all traces of the PS3 hack from the internet, claiming it violated copyright law and would eat into PS3 game sales.

And when it comes to odd screws keeping you out of hardware, it's most likely to get you to buy new stuff sooner.

On Apple products, obscure screws began showing up on the mid-2009 MacBook Pro to prevent you from removing and replacing the battery, according to iFixit, and it's been a recurring trend ever since. In this context, Apple would rather you buy a brand-new MacBook Pro when its battery dies than simply purchase a new battery, Wiens suggests.

Wiens added that if you own an iPhone 4 that came with Phillips screws and you take it to an Apple store for repair, Apple employees will replace the screws with the Pentalobular screws to prevent you from getting inside.

"This move is a part of Apple's strategic plan to increase the rate of obsolescence of their hardware," Wiens said.

If your iPhone is tainted with those funky screws, you're in luck: iFixit is selling the Pentalobular screwdriver for $10.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Photo of an iPhone 4 with Phillips-head screws.

Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Illustration courtesy of iFixit

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