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What’s boincscr.exe (BOINC Screensaver)? Is it safe or a virus?

The boincscr.exe file is a component of BOINC (Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing) and serves as the BOINC Screensaver. It activates when the computer enters screensaver mode, visually displaying the progress of scientific computations being performed by BOINC. This screensaver often shows graphics or simulations related to distributed computing projects users contribute to, such as SETI@Home or climate modeling. While primarily aesthetic, it also serves to indicate that the system is actively participating in computational tasks for various research projects. The screensaver is optional and can be disabled without affecting the core functionality of BOINC's computational contributions.

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs

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More about boincscr.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes boincscr.exe (BOINC Screensaver)?

We’ve found BOINC should be the publisher of boincscr.exe.

How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.

Last updated: September 14, 2025

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Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.

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