What are u shaped screwdrivers for?

It could be for either spanner drilled/slotted screw heads

It is a screwdriver fitting for a supposedly ‘security’ screw. The idea was that this was only available for professional use so an ordinary person with a normal screwdriver would be unable to unscrew it. However, there are more and more screwdriver sets that come with this kind of fitting that are easily available in normal retail outlets, so the original purpose of the screw is increasing redundant.

I think it’s for electronics. Like pc’s, handheld electronics, etc… sort of a tamper-proof thing.

@markferg Cool! I’m a bit less hypes though, i thought i got a set with a rare special tip, but it’s still pretty cool. What do you find security screws in?

I also have a bit that looks like it would fit into those triangular screws.

@XOIIO I think the most common place I’ve seen these sorts of screws in would be in public toilets. Not that I spend a lot of time in them, but there’s not much to look at when you are in there! I suppose if you were really bored and wanted a bit of fun with a touch of danger, you could go about disassembling toilet cubicles!?!?

@markferg lol what fun:D

This could be an IBM screwdriver. IBM uses a number of proprietary screws, and refuses to sell the matching screwdrivers to anyone but licensed IBM technicians. It’s highly irritating, and I’ve been forced to break the case on more than one computer over the years as a result. The PS/2s were notorious for this, as they were designed to be completely proprietary.

(The floppy drives on the PS/2 model 25 were installed the wrong way; they were designed to sit vertically, but were installed horizontally, which means the drive head hung lower than spec, and would eventually catch on the disc and snap off. A proprietary PS/2 floppy drive was $250. A clone drive was $15. Because the pin-out configuration was proprietary, I hired a tech to make me an adaptor, which was cheaper than buying the proprietary drive from IBM. The tech eventually discovered that the only difference in the pin-out was that the sons of bitches at IBM had switched the power pin from one side to the other, which would be enough to blow out any ordinary drive you tried to plug in. And yes, it used proprietary screws on the case, too.)

@XOIIO Security screws used to be found in cable TV converter boxes and other rental electronics to make them tamper-proof from hardware hackers. In the U.S. it was common to see torx security screws—star-shaped with a central post (image). Driver bits for these are now readily available just about anywhere.

Oh yeah, i’ve seen those

Also a lot more common in modern cars to stop the average home mechanic from maintaining their cars, forcing them to the dealer for simple repairs :-/ at stealership prices……

@Scooby some trim screws in autos and trucks have a special “slot” that uses a driver head similar to this

@kelly

Yep, that’s what I’m saying…. it’s to deter the average Joe from attempting simple repairs, not everyone has such a complete tool kit they can affect simple repairs… plus these specialist tools required to do the job can cost a fair amount of cash :-/
And if you’re only going to use it once, why bother….

It’s a spanner bit As others have mentioned it’s designed to prevent tampering. It’s a kind of security bit. And @markferg is right. It’s apparently commonly found in public restroom according to the wikipedia entry on types of screw drivers and bits To keep people from taking toilet paper maybe. I’m going to get one and keep it in my purse and I’ll never have to buy toilet paper again, but I’m going to have to get a bigger purse, for those humongous rolls they use now…