A screen saver is a small utility that takes over the display screen of the monitor if there is no mouse movement or keystrokes for specified time duration. A screen saver displays constantly changing images for the reason of protecting the screen from ghosting (having an image etched on its surface).

For the older version of monochrome computers, the problem of ghosting often erupted if the same pattern of images was displayed on the screen for a long duration. The solution to this problem was the development of screensavers. Screensavers prevent one single image from being displayed on computer screen for long by either blinking out the screen completely or displaying different images, depending upon the screensaver selected.

With the modernization of the information technology, modern display screens are free from the problem of ghosting. Therefore, in todays time, screensavers are mostly an adornment, a source to enliven the display screen with some bright, colorful images. The entertainment provided by the wide variety of screensavers available in different designs has made it widely popular amongst the daily users of computers.

Apart from providing entertainment, screensavers are also used as a security measure to prevent any unauthorized user from accessing or viewing the screen content of the current user. They are programmed to ask for password before permitting the user to resume the work.

There are various sites providing free screensavers on the Internet. These free screensavers are available in an endless number of designs and categories, like 3D screensavers, animated screensavers, and colored-patterned screensavers, etc. These sites come with a built-in gallery of free screensavers to choose from. The endless number of free screensavers provides the user the option to select a screensaver of his choice. So you see that a lively screensaver helps you relax from your hectic schedule by enlivening your screen, and at the same time it helps you protect your data from the preying eyes of an intruder.