What is Tailgating Attack in Cybersecurity: A Social Engineering Threat
Ever since then, cyber attacks have evolved rapidly using innovations and advanced technology as attack vectors to commit cybercrime. In fact, the havoc of these cyber attacks is not only affecting large-scale enterprises but is also impacting small-scale enterprises aggressively.
Cyber fraud practices like social engineering have empowered malicious actors to deploy cyberattacks using a substantial number of ways. Such practices are not only used to attempt cyber attacks virtually but physically too. One of these physical cyber attacks is the “Tailgating attack”.
According to the World Economic Forum, the first cyberattack discovered was in 1988 by Robert Tappan Morris, son of a famous cryptographer, Robert Morris Sr.
What is Tailgating Attack?
Tailgating attack is a social engineering attempt by cyber threat actors in which they trick employees into helping them gain unauthorized access into the company premises. The attacker seeks entry into a restricted area where access is controlled by software-based electronic devices. Since only the authorized people hold the authority to gain access, cybercriminals simply trick and fool one of the authorized people by following behind him/her for entry.
In various organizations, most people wear identification cards or badges on the premises so anyone passing by is aware that they belong to the company. But cybercriminals being one step ahead in manipulation and fraudulent practices, always manage to find ways to enter even these restricted areas that follow high-security regulations.
So, in technical terms of tailgating definition, it is a widespread security breach in which unauthorized personnel gets the passage to the premises of an organization either accidentally or forcefully by manipulating the authorized user. Tailgating attack or piggybacking attack is one of the most common security problems in every organization around the world today.
This attack can cause a huge amount of damage to an organization through data breaches, data manipulation or theft, malware attack by the deployment of malicious software, etc. The one and only prime motive of deploying tailgating attacks are to steal confidential information for malicious purposes.
A survey estimated that a security breach caused by tailgating attacks amounted ranging from $150,000 to “too high to measure”!
Tailgating Attacks vs. Piggybacking
Both tailgating and piggybacking are social engineering attacks that involve unauthorized individuals gaining physical access to a restricted area by exploiting human trust. However, they have key differences:
Tailgating
- Definition: An attacker follows closely behind an authorized person to enter a secured area without their knowledge.
- Example: An unauthorized person sneaks in behind an employee after they badge into a secure office.
- Key Factor: The authorized person is unaware that they are letting someone in.
Piggybacking
- Definition: The attacker tricks or persuades an authorized person into letting them in.
- Example: Someone carrying heavy boxes asks an employee to hold the door open, gaining access without credentials.
- Key Factor: The authorized person knowingly allows access, often due to manipulation or misplaced trust.
Main Difference
- Tailgating: Unauthorized entry without the victim’s awareness
- Piggybacking: Unauthorized entry with the victim’s (misguided) consent
Both attacks exploit human behavior rather than technical vulnerabilities, making security awareness crucial in preventing them.
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Tailgating Attack Example
Cyber attackers have many tricks in their arsenal to dupe people to gain unauthorized access into restricted premises. For example, a social engineer can pretend to be a delivery agent from an e-commerce company or someone from a food delivery service, holding boxes as an excuse to ask employees to open the door. The social engineer would pretend to make it look uneasy for him to open the door and would ask any authorized person to help him as a courtesy to get entry to the restricted premises.
Another way of entering an unauthorized place would be hanging out around a particular area of the building that is used for smoking or tea breaks. The social engineer would stay in that area during the whole break, acting as an employee from the organization, and would initiate a conversation with any random employee. At the end of the break, the social engineer would keep the employee indulged in conversation while following him inside the building as the employee opens the door distractedly.
With the above-mentioned tailgating attack example, it can be clearly seen that cybercriminals are well planned and advanced in the area of social engineering. By striking up a casual conversation or acting like they are part of the organization, these attackers effortlessly make their way into secured areas.
Other common attempts of tricking employees include the lost access key card or technical support service requested by upper management. If nothing then these social engineers impersonate to be someone from the company’s common service provider and would follow any authorized person sneakily behind them when they swipe a key card to open the door.
How to Prevent Tailgating Social Engineering Attacks?
Organizations nowadays are too occupied with focusing on other security measures that they often overlook these basic activities happening on their premises. It is important to understand that cyber criminals can deploy cyber attacks physically as well. For any organization, it is essential to think ahead of how the mindset of cyber criminals works and what are the existing vulnerabilities that require immediate attention.
In order to stay vigilant and secure, organizations must start practicing the following guidelines to prevent these social engineering attacks:
Security Awareness Training
Security Awareness Training is important for employees to recognize the risks of tailgating and highlight their need for constant awareness. Employees should report strange individuals they encounter and should never let entrance doors remain open for strangers. Ask them to lock their system and other devices while leaving the workstation.
Physical Barriers
To avoid tailgating attacks, do not let unknown people enter the restricted premises of the office unless they have appropriate credentials or authority of access. Limit entry to one person at a time for authorized credentials and stop unapproved guests from slipping in.
Access Control Systems
Security areas should use advanced entry control systems including biometric scanners or identity badges to confirm authorized access for all persons.
Video Surveillance
Security cameras installed at entry areas should work in real-time to track suspicious entry attempts as part of prompt security responses.
Tailgating Detection Systems
Safety alarms and entrance sensors will detect when many people try to enter using one single access key because they can warn security staff about breach events.
Visitor Management Protocols
Every individual who enters restricted areas must both authenticate their identity and need an authorized companion for the duration of their visit. Always keep your access identity card with you while you are on the premises and make sure to keep it secure from being misused by unauthorized employees.
Regular Audits and Drills
Your facility should perform security audits together with emergency response drills periodically to evaluate tailgating prevention methods and verify employee readiness.
For a secure workplace, it is highly recommended to keep social engineering attacks like tailgating, phishing, shoulder surfing, etc. at the minimum with the help of the right security solutions and measures.
Bottom Line
Prevention against tailgating attacks not only addresses the physical security of the organization but also ensures that the official data is safeguarded against the reach of these social engineers.
Have you ever experienced any tailgating attacks in your organization? Share with us and let us know what was your approach to combat such attacks in the comment section below!
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