Security screw (pin-in-Torx and friends)

No formal standard - security drives built onto normal heads (ISO 7045, DIN 965 etc.)

Sizes

M2-M10 metric, #4 to 3/8 in

Drive & head

Six-lobe with a centre pin, tri-wing, spanner (snake eye) or one-way

Materials

Steel, A2/A4 stainless

Strength / grades

Same as the underlying screw type

Hole and pilot guidance

Same holes as the machine or self-tapping screw the security head is built onto.

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Where it is used

Public and institutional panels

Control panels in schools, hospitals and transport, to stop casual tampering

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Consumer electronics housings

Keeps users out of sealed devices and warranty-marked assemblies

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Watch out for

  • No matching bit means no clean way in - drilling it out is the fallback.
  • Far fewer sizes, heads and materials are available than for normal drives.
  • Pin heights vary between suppliers, so a cheap bit may not seat fully.