# Screensavers that process data

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screensavers-that-process-data/92166>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 8, 2001, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screensavers-that-process-data/92166 "2001-11-08T11:21:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screensavers-that-process-data/92166/1 "2001-11-08T11:21:14Z")

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I would like to ask y’all for an opinion on these screensavers (I know that SETI had one as well as Imperial Cancer research) where it crunches data while your not using the machine and then sends the proccessed data back to the “mothership”.

An acquaintance told me that her company has banned the use of these screensavers because of worries about exposure to viruses _et al_. Do you think this is justified? What is the level of danger?

Thanks

Gp

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**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screensavers-that-process-data/92166/2 "2001-11-08T11:36:43Z")

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I did some 800 packets of data for SETI before I had to stop because my computer became to slow and never had a problem. I can’t see that much problem since you are directly communicating with a specific computer.

That being said do not forget what happened with the Power Puff Girl DVD.

But you have to take risks to get things done. Just be smart about your data and don’t store all your eggs in one basket.

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**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screensavers-that-process-data/92166/3 "2001-11-08T11:38:46Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Osiris \*  
> **That being said do not forget what happened with the Power Puff Girl DVD.**

??? Don’t know this one…

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**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screensavers-that-process-data/92166/4 "2001-11-08T12:13:25Z")

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Here’s a [BBC News](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1632000/1632896.stm) story on it. A little scary.