- Legitimate screen savers that are come with Windows use the SCR file extension. Third-party screen savers may also use this extension. The extension is not generally seen by users; however, because it is a system file and therefore hidden by default in Windows systems. If hidden and system files are set to display in the folder options on Windows, SCR files may be shown in folders. SCR files are installed in the background when a screen saver is set up on a computer. They provide the data for configuration settings in the Control Panel under the screen savers option.
- Viruses sometimes use the SCR file type to breach the security of a computer. One reason for this is that SCR files aren't as widely known about as EXE files, and users may not suspect them of being capable of installing undesired script. Screen savers downloaded from unreliable third-parties may contain junk-ware as well as viruses.
- Any SCR file that isn't contained in a usual Windows system folder -- for example, a SCR file unexpectedly found in your "Downloads" folder, should be scanned for viruses. The Malicious Software Removal Tool, provided by Microsoft, can be used to scan SCR files. To scan a SCR file, instruct the tool to scan the folder containing the file. If a virus is found, the entire computer should then be scanned.
- To change a screen saver, go to the "Start" menu and open the Control Panel. Screen saver settings can be found under the "Display" tab, or by typing "screen saver" in the Windows search box. Locate the screen saver that you wish to enable and select it to change from your current screen saver. New screen savers can be installed by double-clicking on their setup file, usually an EXE file. Alter screen saver settings, such as time, color and speed using the "Display" menu options.
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