Tailgating is a social engineering attack where an attacker sneaks into a restricted area by closely following a person who is authorized to enter. The authorized person is not usually aware of the attacker’s presence.
Example:
Elaine swipes her card to enter her office building. John quickly follows behind her before the door closes and quickly blends in with a group of people walking nearby. John has now gained access to the building without proper authorization.
Prevention Tips:
- Pay attention to your surroundings and note if there are people following you closely.