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<\/p>\nPEOPLE are freaking out over the real reason screensavers exist and it has sent the internet into meltdown.<\/p>\n
It turns out they have a far more serious screen-saving role than computer users previously thought.<\/p>\n
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Screensavers have covered idle computer screens for decades and the most well-known have become etched in the minds of millions.<\/p>\n
The famed DVD logo that bounces across the screen and gets closer to hitting the corner each time was so mesmerising that people would often sit and stare at it.<\/p>\n
It was even turned into a much-used meme.<\/p>\n
And yet, the true reason they exist is no laughing matter.<\/p>\n
The original function of a screensaver was to protect a monitor from damage that could occur when a single picture was left on for an extended time.<\/p>\n It keeps moving so that it doesn't stay too long and scar the screen with a visual pattern due to "phosphor exhaustion".<\/p>\n Over time, this can lead to discolouration or blemishes on the screen. <\/p>\n The revelation sparked shock and awe online.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n One X\/Twitter user to write: "just realized that the dvd logo\/'no signal' is constantly moving around on my tv to prevent the image from burning onto my screen.<\/p>\n "THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THEM SCREENSAVERS," they yelled at the world.<\/p>\n A user responded: "You didn't know this?? literal common knowledge"<\/p>\n However, other baffled internet users rushed to say that they also had no idea.<\/p>\n "I'm 24 and didn't even make this connection. Boomer Twitter needs to chill," one commented.<\/p>\n Another added: "Wait I\u2019m 26 and I just found this out wtf".<\/p>\n A third wrote: "AND THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE SUCH A RANDOM PATH ITS TO NOT BURN IN THE PATH".<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the long-running claim that screensavers make devices slower has been debunked by tech whizzes.<\/p>\n According to the experts behind Lenovo, the reality is actually the opposite.<\/p>\n "If your computer is running slowly then having an active screen saver could help improve performance by reducing power usage for certain parts such as video cards or CPUs.<\/p>\n "This means they don't have to work as hard trying to keep everything running at full speed when nothing needs doing.<\/p>\n "Ultimately, they don't directly increase speeds, but they certainly won't slow them down either so it's worth looking into setting one up if yours hasn't already got one installed."<\/p>\n It comes as a "hidden" symbol on Google's browser is baffling Brits and their ignorance could cost them thousands of pounds.<\/p>\n Tech\u00a0experts have issued a warning about a padlock icon on\u00a0Google Chrome\u00a0which many people fail to spot or else don't understand.<\/p>\n You might assume the icon indicates the website you're looking at it safe and trustworthy or else free or viruses or suspicious links.<\/p>\n Yet it actually only means the data being sent from your computer is encrypted, dating back to the early days of the internet when this could be rare.<\/p>\n This means the data being shared can't be intercepted by a third party, the\u00a0Mail\u00a0reported.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/EP_GOOGLE_APPS_COMP.jpg\")
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