Social Engineering: What is Tailgating?
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2024 9:28 am
Tailgating is a social engineering attack in which a person seeks to gain access to a restricted area in which they are not allowed to be.
A definition of tailgating in the physical world would be when one car follows another car too closely, making driving uncomfortable and unsafe for the driver of the car in front.
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Essentially, a tailgating attack is when someone sneaks into a restricted list of bolivia whatsapp phone numbers area using someone else. This can be, as with cars, following someone very closely ("Hey, can you hold the door for me?"). Or attackers can trick people into pretending to be someone else, as with phishing or pretexting .
However, tailgating is different from these social engineering attacks. And indeed, it is a physical intrusion, to access sensitive data, money, etc. So, it is more similar to baiting .
Some examples of tailgating attacks
A person pretends to be a delivery driver and waits outside a building. When an employee is approved by security and the door is opened, the attacker asks the employee to “hold the door” for him. This allows an authorized person to gain access to the business through an authorized person.
Impostors can take on multiple identities, such as repairmen, people pretending to carry heavy boxes, etc. Anything that might make you feel guilty about not holding the door or not giving you access.
However, tailgating doesn't work in all types of corporate environments. For example, in large corporations, everyone entering a building has to swipe a card. However, in mid-sized companies, attackers can engage in conversations with employees to simulate familiarity and gain access.
A definition of tailgating in the physical world would be when one car follows another car too closely, making driving uncomfortable and unsafe for the driver of the car in front.
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Essentially, a tailgating attack is when someone sneaks into a restricted list of bolivia whatsapp phone numbers area using someone else. This can be, as with cars, following someone very closely ("Hey, can you hold the door for me?"). Or attackers can trick people into pretending to be someone else, as with phishing or pretexting .
However, tailgating is different from these social engineering attacks. And indeed, it is a physical intrusion, to access sensitive data, money, etc. So, it is more similar to baiting .
Some examples of tailgating attacks
A person pretends to be a delivery driver and waits outside a building. When an employee is approved by security and the door is opened, the attacker asks the employee to “hold the door” for him. This allows an authorized person to gain access to the business through an authorized person.
Impostors can take on multiple identities, such as repairmen, people pretending to carry heavy boxes, etc. Anything that might make you feel guilty about not holding the door or not giving you access.
However, tailgating doesn't work in all types of corporate environments. For example, in large corporations, everyone entering a building has to swipe a card. However, in mid-sized companies, attackers can engage in conversations with employees to simulate familiarity and gain access.