Table of Contents
Introduction
What is tailgating in cyber security, cyber security has become a crucial pillar for protecting sensitive data and systems from a variety of threats. While technological advancements have fortified digital defenses, the human element remains a critical vulnerability. One of the most insidious tactics exploiting this weakness is social engineering attacks, which manipulate human behavior to bypass security measures. Among these, tailgating stands out as a particularly significant threat.
Tailgating, also known as “piggybacking,” is a method where unauthorized individuals gain access to secure areas by following authorized personnel. This deceptive strategy compromises both physical and cyber security, allowing attackers to infiltrate systems, steal confidential information, or plant malicious tools. As organizations strive to strengthen their defenses, understanding and addressing the risks associated with tailgating has never been more important.
What is Tailgating in Cyber Security?
Tailgating, often referred to as “piggybacking,” is a type of security breach where an unauthorized individual gains access to a restricted area by following someone who has proper credentials. This attack exploits human behavior, such as politeness or trust, to bypass security measures like keycards, PIN codes, or biometric scanners.
For example, an attacker might pretend to be a delivery person carrying heavy packages and wait for an authorized employee to hold the door open for them. Once inside, the attacker can access sensitive areas or systems without raising suspicion.
Common examples include someone slipping into a secure office building behind an employee or entering a data center without being challenged. These breaches can lead to physical theft, unauthorized access to sensitive data, or even the planting of malware in secure networks. Tailgating highlights how seemingly small actions can have significant implications for an organization’s overall cyber security.
Tailgating vs. Piggybacking
While tailgating and piggybacking are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences between the two tactics that set them apart.
Piggybacking occurs when an unauthorized individual gains access to a restricted area with the explicit permission of an authorized person. For instance, an employee may knowingly hold the door open for someone they assume belongs to the organization, without verifying their credentials. In contrast, tailgating involves unauthorized individuals following someone into a secure area without their awareness.
To illustrate, consider these real-world examples:
Tailgating: An attacker pretends to be on a phone call while closely following an employee through a secure entrance, ensuring the employee doesn’t notice their entry.
Piggybacking: An unauthorized visitor politely asks an employee to hold the door open because they “forgot their badge,” and the employee obliges without questioning their identity.
Both tailgating and piggybacking are social engineering tactics that exploit human behavior, but piggybacking often relies on the goodwill or trust of the authorized individual, whereas tailgating hinges on stealth and deception. Recognizing and addressing these nuances is essential for reinforcing an organization’s physical and cyber security measures.
How Tailgating Happens in the Workplace
Tailgating in the workplace is a common security vulnerability that occurs when an unauthorized person follows an authorized employee into a restricted area, bypassing security protocols without proper credentials. This can happen in various office settings, such as when an attacker slips in behind a colleague entering a secure building or data center, hoping they won’t notice.
Tailgating is a form of social engineering attack, which means it manipulates human behavior rather than exploiting technological flaws. It relies on an individual’s willingness to trust others or act politely. For example, an attacker may pretend to be a fellow employee or delivery person, using their position to gain entry into a restricted area. Employees, especially in high-traffic areas or during busy times, might inadvertently allow someone to “tailgate” simply to avoid confrontation or because they assume the person belongs there.
The implications of tailgating in the workplace are serious. Unauthorized individuals can access sensitive information, steal equipment, or install malware that can compromise both physical and cyber security. The simplicity and effectiveness of this attack highlight the importance of educating staff on recognizing such threats and adhering to security protocols, even in seemingly low-risk situations.
Types of Attacks Associated with Tailgating
Tailgating is an example of what type of attack KnowBe4 often refers to as a social engineering attack. Social engineering attacks manipulate human psychology to bypass security systems. Tailgating exploits the natural tendency of people to be helpful or trusting, allowing unauthorized individuals to gain access to secure areas by simply following someone inside. This reliance on human behavior links tailgating to several other common social engineering attack methods.
One of these is the pretexting attack, where attackers create a fabricated story or scenario to gain trust and convince individuals to grant access. For instance, an attacker might claim to be a contractor needing temporary access to a secure area, using a convincing pretext to gain entry, much like how tailgating relies on deceptive tactics.
Another related method is shoulder surfing in cyber security, where an attacker watches someone enter their password or access sensitive information by simply looking over their shoulder. While different from tailgating, shoulder surfing also takes advantage of human behavior and inattentiveness, showing how these attacks often overlap in targeting vulnerable people rather than systems.
Training programs like KnowBe4 emphasize the importance of recognizing these social engineering tactics. In their security awareness training, employees are often educated on recognizing suspicious behavior, such as unescorted individuals in secure areas or unsolicited requests for help, which can prevent attacks like tailgating. These programs help create a culture of security by encouraging employees to question any unusual situations that could lead to a breach, whether physical or digital.
Why Tailgating is a Serious Threat
A tailgating attack is a type of social engineering tactic that directly bypasses both physical and logical security systems. While technological measures such as keycards, biometric scanners, or access control systems are in place to prevent unauthorized entry, tailgating relies on exploiting human behavior to bypass these defenses. An attacker gains access by simply following someone authorized, rendering these physical security layers ineffective. This can lead to significant risks, such as theft of confidential information, the installation of malware, or the unauthorized use of sensitive systems.
Tailgating doesn’t just target physical security; it also poses a threat to the logical security of a network. Once inside a secure area, attackers may be able to access computers, servers, or networks that are crucial to an organization’s operations, potentially compromising valuable data or intellectual property.
This highlights the importance of the human firewall, which refers to employees acting as the first line of defense against such attacks. Even the best security systems can be undermined if employees fail to recognize the threat of tailgating. Employees play a crucial role in preventing unauthorized access—by being vigilant, questioning strangers, and adhering to security protocols. When individuals are trained to recognize suspicious behavior, they become an active part of an organization’s security strategy, significantly reducing the likelihood of a successful tailgating attack.
Examples of Tailgating Attacks
Tailgating attacks can happen in various ways, depending on the creativity and tactics of the attacker. Here are a few real-life and hypothetical scenarios to illustrate how tailgating works and the variations of the attack.
Scenario 1: The Delivery Person (Pretexting Attack)
An attacker, posing as a delivery person, approaches a secure building with a large package. They wait for an employee to scan their access card and hold the door open, claiming to have a delivery. The employee, trusting the appearance of the package and the delivery person, allows the attacker to walk through the door behind them. Once inside, the attacker gains unauthorized access to sensitive areas, potentially installing malware or stealing company secrets. This is an example of pretexting—a form of social engineering where the attacker fabricates a scenario to gain access.
Scenario 2: The Busy Office (Tailgating without Intent)
In a busy office, an employee rushes to enter a secured building, juggling multiple things at once. Behind them, an attacker, who is not authorized to enter, waits for the door to open. As the employee focuses on their tasks, they are unaware that someone is following closely behind them into the building. This scenario showcases how tailgating in cybersecurity can be as simple as exploiting distractions and human complacency.
Scenario 3: The Friendly Neighbor (Piggybacking Attack)
An unauthorized individual approaches a secure office building and asks an employee if they could hold the door open because they “forgot their badge.” The employee, recognizing the individual as a “neighbor” or someone who appears familiar, obliges and lets them in. This is an example of piggybacking, where an unauthorized person gains entry with the explicit permission of an employee, unlike tailgating, which relies on stealth.
How to Prevent Tailgating Attacks
Preventing tailgating attacks requires a combination of employee awareness, physical security measures, and a strong organizational culture focused on vigilance. Here are several practical steps to minimize the risk of tailgating in your workplace:
Employee Training on Identifying Unauthorized Individuals
One of the most effective ways to prevent tailgating is through employee training. Employees should be trained to recognize suspicious behavior and unauthorized individuals attempting to gain entry. They should also be encouraged to challenge anyone they don’t recognize or who appears to be following them into a secure area. Regular training sessions on security protocols can help reinforce this behavior.
Use of Physical Barriers like Turnstiles or Badge Access
Incorporating physical barriers such as turnstiles, mantraps, or doors that require badges to be scanned is another key defense against tailgating. These barriers make it more difficult for an unauthorized person to slip through behind an employee. Additionally, installing access systems that require both a badge and a PIN or biometric scan can add extra layers of protection, reducing the likelihood of a successful tailgating attempt.
Regular Audits and Security Protocols
Conducting regular audits and maintaining up-to-date security protocols ensures that both employees and security systems are following the proper procedures. This can include routine checks on the effectiveness of access control systems and a review of incident reports to identify any potential vulnerabilities in security measures. Having clear, well-communicated rules about entry and exit, including penalties for failing to adhere to them, can also help reduce instances of tailgating.
Encouraging a Culture of Vigilance (Human Firewall)
A strong human firewall can be one of the most effective defenses against tailgating. Encouraging a culture where employees are alert to security threats and feel empowered to report suspicious behavior can greatly reduce the risk of attacks. Creating a workplace where security is everyone’s responsibility, and where people feel comfortable questioning unknown individuals or reporting anomalies, can make a significant difference in preventing tailgating.
Related Social Engineering Attacks
Social engineering attacks, like tailgating, rely on manipulating human behavior to gain unauthorized access to systems or sensitive information. While tailgating focuses on bypassing physical security measures, several other attack vectors, including pretexting, shoulder surfing, and phishing, exploit similar weaknesses in human nature. Let’s explore these related attacks and how they differ from tailgating.
Pretexting Attack
A pretexting attack involves an attacker creating a fabricated scenario or “pretext” to obtain information or access from an individual. Unlike tailgating, where the attacker gains physical entry, pretexting usually focuses on manipulating a person over the phone or via email. For example, an attacker might pose as a company representative, claiming they need access to a system or data for a legitimate-sounding reason, such as updating records or verifying account information. Both pretexting and tailgating rely on deception, but pretexting targets the victim’s trust through a fabricated story, while tailgating exploits physical access and social norms.
Shoulder Surfing in Cyber Security
Shoulder surfing in cyber security is another form of social engineering where an attacker observes someone’s screen or keyboard from a close distance to steal confidential information, such as login credentials or account details. While tailgating allows an attacker to physically follow someone into a restricted area, shoulder surfing typically happens in public or semi-public spaces. Both attacks exploit human behavior and negligence, but shoulder surfing focuses on obtaining data through observation rather than physical access to secure areas.
Phishing
Phishing attacks, usually conducted through emails or fake websites, attempt to deceive victims into divulging personal information or credentials. While tailgating is a physical security breach, phishing is a digital attack that targets the victim’s trust and curiosity. Both attacks often require some form of impersonation, and both rely on the victim’s willingness to trust or ignore security protocols. The key difference is that phishing happens online and does not require physical proximity, while tailgating takes place in person.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding what is tailgating in cyber security is essential for safeguarding both physical and digital assets within an organization. Tailgating, as a form of social engineering, highlights the vulnerability of human behavior in the face of security protocols. Attackers exploit this vulnerability by gaining unauthorized access through deception, bypassing both physical and logical security systems.
Preventing tailgating requires more than just technological solutions; it demands a collective effort from every employee. By fostering a human firewall, where staff are trained to recognize suspicious behavior, challenge unauthorized individuals, and adhere to security protocols, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of such attacks. Tailgating, like other social engineering attacks, thrives on trust, complacency, and a lack of awareness—elements that can be countered through vigilance and education.
Ultimately, protecting an organization from tailgating attacks and other social engineering threats is not just about having the right tools in place, but about empowering employees to act as the first line of defense. When everyone is actively engaged in security practices, the risks of unauthorized access and potential data breaches are greatly minimized.
FAQs
1. What is tailgating in cyber security examples?
Tailgating in cyber security refers to an attacker gaining unauthorized access to a restricted area by following an authorized person through a secure door or entry point. For example, an attacker may wait for an employee to swipe their badge to gain access to a building, then follow them closely behind without using their own credentials. Another example is when a person pretending to be a delivery worker enters a building by following someone who opens the door for them.
2. What is tailgating in simple terms?
Tailgating is when someone gains unauthorized access to a building, room, or area by following someone with authorized access, such as an employee or visitor. The person doing the tailgating doesn’t have the proper credentials but enters the area by slipping in behind an authorized individual.
3. Which type of attack is tailgating?
Tailgating is a social engineering attack that targets human behavior. It exploits the tendency of people to trust others, especially in busy or distracted environments. Tailgating can bypass physical security measures, making it a significant threat to an organization’s overall security system.
4. How to avoid tailgating?
To avoid tailgating, organizations should implement security measures like turnstiles, badge access systems, and mantraps. Employees should be trained to recognize suspicious behavior and challenge anyone they don’t recognize, especially if they are following them into secure areas. Encouraging a human firewall, where employees are vigilant about security, is also key in preventing tailgating.
5. What is the difference between piggybacking and tailgating?
Piggybacking occurs when an unauthorized individual is granted access to a secure area with the explicit permission of an authorized person. This is different from tailgating, where the unauthorized person gains access without permission or knowledge of the authorized individual. While both involve following someone into a secure area, piggybacking is a more intentional act of allowing access, whereas tailgating relies on stealth.
6. Is tailgating a physical or cyber threat?
Tailgating is primarily a physical threat, as it involves gaining unauthorized physical access to a restricted area. However, it can also lead to cyber threats if the attacker uses physical access to install malware or steal sensitive data from computers or servers.
7. Why is tailgating used in social engineering?
Tailgating is used in social engineering because it exploits human trust and behavior. Attackers rely on employees’ tendency to be polite, distracted, or in a hurry, taking advantage of these moments to slip past security. Since tailgating doesn’t involve sophisticated hacking techniques, it’s a low-effort method for attackers to bypass security systems and gain unauthorized access to sensitive areas.