What? You thought hacking was an art practiced only by a bunch of cave-dwelling code warriors? Think again. You can easily hack all kinds of hardware gadgets and software yourself to add features, improve performance, and lord it over your less-techie friends. We've put together a choice collection of over 40 useful (and sometimes amusing) hacks—here, and online at PCMag.com.

Want a useful alternative OS for your iPod that offers sound enhancement and more flexible playback? No problem—we have instructions that let you do it in minutes. Tired of the commercials you see when watching shows on your Media Center PC? Poof! Kiss them goodbye. Even your car is fertile territory for a few hacks. And you can use one of the tips we've collected here to make your Roomba show off for your friends by driving around in crazy spirals.

For this issue's collection of hacks, we relied on PC Magazine staffers who are experienced exploit finders, a selection of crafty freelancers, and some titles from Wiley Publishing's series of books written in conjunction with PC Magazine's sister site, ExtremeTech.com—such as Hacking Roomba and Hacking the PSP. In several cases, especially for longer and more complex hacks, you'll find pointers to in-depth online content you can access, along with step-by-step instructions and several entire chapters from Wiley's books. So roll up your sleeves and dig in! And just say no to the status quo.—next: An Apple iPod >

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IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP!
Before you jump into any hack, note that altering hardware or software will most often void product warranties and may violate terms of use. Be aware of manufacturers' or service providers' policies, and note that we can't guarantee that these hacks won't damage your products.