Older computer monitors used cathode-ray tube (CRT) technology, similar to old television sets. Screensavers at one time served a more functional purpose than they do now. Both wallpaper and screensavers are commonly used on both personal and business computers.Ĭathode ray tubes that project the same image for a long period of time can damage the screen. Sometimes, the screensaver on a computer will activate other computer programs that can run in the background, such as an antivirus or anti-spyware scan. The screensaver hides the computer desktop, both to prevent damage to the monitor and for security purposes. The difference between screensavers and wallpaper is that wallpaper is a static image that acts as a background image for the computer desktop, whereas the screensaver is a computer program that places a moving image on the computer screen while it is not in use.
