The impact of software bugs are also much higher on a machine running server software. When you create such a server, you not only must take greater care to protect yourself, but also to protect the users of your server and the JMU network in general. At the present time, JMU computer security policies do not place any restrictions on servers that you are allowed to operate save that they must not monopolize resources, be used for illegal activities, or be used for commercial gain. However, if such a server presents a risk to the campus network, JMU will take steps to protect its resources. These steps may include monitoring server accesses and shutting down the network port.
Complex software has bugs.
Throw time to market pressures into the picture and the immeasurable variables that software may be exposed to on a networked desktop and bugs are inevitable. Some bugs are found by accident and some are found in the course of research by the large numbers of people around the world with an interest, of one type or another, in the security of your computer. Once a security bug is discovered it is often publicly announced within weeks. Very soon after the announcement, someone will write code to exploit the bug, wrap it up in an easy to use program, and make it available to the public. Within days, it is in the hands of most hacker groups and anyone else that wants it in a form that can be easily used by children to take advantage of anyone running the buggy software.