A distributed-computing client is software that contributes a device’s processing power to a shared workload. It may run calculations in the background, using CPU resources and sometimes memory or network capacity to complete tasks coordinated across multiple machines.
These clients can support legitimate research or other authorized projects, but they become a security concern when installed deceptively or used without the device owner’s informed consent. In a bundled-installer attack, a client may be added alongside the software a user intended to install, then run quietly and consume resources. Defenders can investigate unexplained sustained CPU use, unfamiliar background processes, and unexpected software installations. Resource use alone is not proof of malicious activity, so check the program’s origin, installation context, and authorization.