A tailgating attack occurs when an unauthorized individual gains access to a restricted area by closely following an authorized person, thus bypassing security protocols. This social engineering tactic can lead to theft of sensitive data and property damage. However, implementing robust access control measures can effectively mitigate tailgating risks.

What is a Tailgating Attack?

A tailgating attack is simple in its execution but potentially devastating in its consequences. This type of breach occurs when an unauthorized individual gains entry to restricted areas by closely following someone with legitimate access. The primary objective is to circumvent access controls and infiltrate secure zones that would otherwise remain off-limits to the perpetrator.

Once inside, these unauthorized intruders may acquire equipment, sensitive data, or confidential documents. Such breaches can set the stage for more sophisticated cyber threats, including phishing attempts or malware installation. Tailgating attacks exploit common courtesy and social norms, with attackers adeptly blending in and capitalizing on human tendencies like politeness. By taking advantage of held doors or mimicking authorized personnel, they sidestep security measures and achieve their illicit goals.

Organizations across all sectors and sizes are vulnerable to a tailgating attack, meaning those housing high-value assets, sensitive information, or extensive physical premises could be at risk. Financial institutions are particularly susceptible due to the nature of their operations and the valuable data they possess. Understanding the full scope and implications of tailgating attacks is crucial for developing effective countermeasures and protecting against these subtle yet dangerous security breaches.

Common Tailgating Attack Methods

Attackers prefer tailgating because, unlike hacking or bypassing electronic access controls, it requires no technical expertise — only deception and manipulation. What is an example of tailgating in cybersecurity? Here are several common methods:

  • Physical Tailgating: This occurs when an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual through a secure door or gate without using their own credentials, relying on the door being held open or access already granted.
  • Piggybacking: The attacker convinces or manipulates an authorized individual to allow them through a secure entrance, often by pretending to be an employee or contractor.
  • Impersonation: Attackers pose as delivery personnel, maintenance workers, or other legitimate visitors to gain trust and access to secure areas, either physically or digitally.
  • Rigid Follow-Through: Attackers follow closely behind an authorized person through a security gate, limiting the time to verify the tailgater’s identity or clearance.

How Does a Tailgate Attack Work?

Tailgating is a sophisticated form of social engineering that exploits human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Attackers manipulate people’s natural tendencies and weaknesses to bypass security measures, avoiding direct confrontation or technical hacking methods.

In physical tailgating scenarios, an attacker closely shadows an authorized individual entering a secured facility. They take advantage of common courtesy, such as an employee holding a door open and the brief window of time that doesn’t allow for thorough identity verification. This method is effective because it plays on social norms and the human inclination to be helpful.

Tailgate attackers might impersonate new employees, maintenance staff, or delivery personnel to gain trust and access. By exploiting these social vulnerabilities, tailgating attacks can circumvent even the most advanced technical security measures.

What are the Goals of a Tailgating Attack?

The main objective of a tailgating attack is to bypass security measures and gain unauthorized access to restricted areas and sensitive information. Once inside, malicious actors typically aim to steal valuable data or credentials, which can be used for further attacks or sold on dark web markets. However, the goals of these attacks can extend beyond simple theft.

Attackers may seek to disrupt operations, causing financial losses and reputational damage to the targeted organization. In some cases, they might install malware for future access, creating backdoors that allow for prolonged exploitation of the compromised systems. Additionally, tailgating attacks can be used for corporate espionage, enabling attackers to gather intelligence on an organization’s operations, strategies, or technologies.

What are the Impacts of a Tailgating Attack?

Tailgating breaches severely compromise an organization’s security, jeopardizing its data assets, operations, and critical infrastructure. The impacts of these attacks are wide-ranging and potentially devastating:

  • Theft of sensitive data: Unauthorized access allows attackers to steal confidential files, databases, documents, and other private information.
  • Data breaches and leaks: Stolen data may be sold to competitors or leaked publicly, resulting in the loss of proprietary information, reputational damage, and the exposure of customers’ and employees’ personal information.
  • Malware installation: Attackers often exploit their access to implant ransomware or other malicious software, facilitating future intrusions, data encryption, or widespread system disruption.
  • Operations disruption: A tailgater’s actions, like sabotage or vandalism, can cripple critical business functions and workflows, leading to significant downtime and financial losses.
  • Costly damage to assets: Beyond data theft, physical asset damage or theft can occur, including tampering with equipment or stealing hardware, incurring substantial restoration costs.
  • Non-compliance issues: Organizations may face severe fines or penalties for non-compliance with data protection regulations, compounding the financial impact of the breach.

9 Ways to Prevent Tailgating Attacks

Preventing tailgating attacks requires implementing robust entry control security to deter and detect unauthorized access. Your organization can employ the following measures to mitigate socially engineered attacks:

1. Install Video Surveillance

Installing comprehensive video surveillance systems, particularly at entry and exit points, enables security personnel to monitor areas for unauthorized access attempts effectively. Advanced cameras can detect instances of individuals following too closely behind authorized users through controlled passages without presenting their credentials.

The visible presence of surveillance equipment serves as a powerful deterrent to potential attackers, as they can no longer rely on brief timing windows or social manipulation to slip by unnoticed. Security personnel monitoring these systems can promptly intervene to question or apprehend suspicious individuals caught on camera, significantly reducing the risk of successful tailgating attempts.

2. Implement Tailgating Detection Systems

Anti-tailgating detection systems use advanced sensors and alarms to automatically detect and respond to instances where unauthorized individuals attempt to follow closely behind authorized persons into secured areas.

These systems include door sensors that monitor how long doors remain open, flagging access instances that deviate from normal single-person entry patterns. This allows security personnel to intervene and verify the identity of individuals who might be attempting to tailgate.

Some systems also use infrared sensors, pressure-sensitive mats, or other technologies near entrances to accurately monitor the number of individuals entering or exiting. If these sensors detect a discrepancy between the number of entries and authorized credentials swiped, an alarm is triggered to alert staff to potential unauthorized access.

3. Increase Physical Defenses

Enhance security by adding secure lobbies and airlocks at entry and exit points to prevent unrestricted access. This advanced level of security thwarts intruders from exploiting doors for piggybacking and mandates separate identification and authentication for all individuals

Further bolster internal security by segmenting areas with additional secure checkpoints, such as locked interior doors. This strategy minimizes the distance an intruder could covertly travel within the site if they manage to bypass the initial perimeter, containing potential threats more effectively.

4. Strengthen Access Control and Security

Implement a layered combination of physical, electronic, and audiovisual security controls to reinforce access control and security, making it significantly more challenging to bypass authentication through manipulation or tampering.

Strengthen access control by mandating all personnel to visibly display authorized ID and access badges, making it harder for unauthorized individuals to blend in unnoticed. Install state-of-the-art electronic locks and authentication systems, such as biometric or multi-factor badge readers, at all entrances and exits to enforce identity verification without relying solely on human discretion.

Regularly monitor access logs for abnormal access patterns and conduct thorough audits of physical security routines to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. Invest in employee education on security policies and empower staff to challenge unknown individuals, fostering a culture of heightened awareness against social manipulation tactics.

5. Install Clear Signage

Strategically install clear, prominent signage to prevent tailgating by explicitly indicating that only authorized personnel are permitted beyond designated points. Display conspicuous signs warning that sophisticated camera systems monitor for illegal access and that tailgating is strictly prohibited.

These signs are a visible reminder of security policies, effectively dissuading unauthorized persons and making potential perpetrators easily identifiable if caught on camera. They act as powerful deterrents against opportunistic attempts by clearly signaling that unauthorized access is actively detected and prohibited within the secured facility.

6. Require Identification

Proper identity validation is critical to enforcing security protocols and serves as an essential preventative measure against social engineering attacks. Consider implementing the following identification methods for employees:

  • Photo ID cards: High-quality photo IDs enable security personnel to verify an individual’s identity from a distance or in low-light conditions, enhancing visual authentication.
  • Magnetic/barcode badges: Advanced electronic card readers scan magnetic stripes or barcodes at entry points, automatically verifying authorization through securely encoded data on the badge.
  • Proximity cards/fobs: Utilize RFID/NFC technology to authorize entry hands-free through electronic readers, streamlining access while eliminating physical badge transfer vulnerabilities.
  • Smart cards: Incorporate secure microchips that store unique encrypted credentials, making smart cards extremely difficult to duplicate or share if lost or stolen.
  • Biometric scans: Implement fingerprint, iris, or facial recognition technology to authenticate unique physical traits, providing highly reliable and non-transferable identification.
  • One-time codes: Deploy single-use login codes via text message as a second factor for remote or emergency access verification, adding a time-sensitive layer of security.

7. Implement Visitor Management Systems

Establish comprehensive visitor management systems that require all visitors to register in advance or upon arrival, providing valid identification for authentication purposes. Issue visitors dated badges with clear photos, which must be visibly worn at all times to facilitate easy identification by employees and security personnel.

Enforce a policy that requires employees to escort visitors at all times while they are on the premises. Deploy electronic access control systems at key points to log visitor check-ins and check-outs, enabling real-time tracking of visitor movements and ensuring they are only present in authorized areas.

8. Educate and Train Employees

Implement comprehensive education programs to instill the importance of proper ID display and adherence to access control policies, effectively discouraging risky behavior. Tailgating incidents are significantly reduced when all employees remain vigilant and understand the critical need to thoroughly validate the identification of anyone behind following them into secure areas. Emphasize the responsibility of every employee to question and report individuals without visible badges.

Conduct targeted training sessions highlighting common social engineering tactics like piggybacking, equipping employees to recognize suspicious activities near entry points and maintain heightened awareness. Encourage a security-conscious culture where identifying potential tailgating becomes integral to daily routines, raising vigilance across all organizational levels.

9. Employ and Prepare Security Guards

Security guards serve as the frontline of defense against tailgating attempts. To optimize their effectiveness:

  • Implement rigorous vetting processes for guard applicants, including background checks and thorough reference verification.
  • Provide guards with extensive, specialized training to confidently authenticate various ID types and recognize potential security threats.
  • Conduct regular training refreshers to maintain and enhance guards’ abilities to detect suspicious behavior and counter social engineering tactics.
  • Strategically position guards at critical building entry/exit points for visible deterrence, implementing periodic rotational shifts to enhance unpredictability.
  • Equip guards with advanced two-way communication devices to facilitate rapid support during incidents and ensure seamless response coordination across the facility.

By implementing these nine strategies, organizations can significantly enhance their defense against tailgating attacks, creating a more secure environment for their assets, employees, and sensitive information.

What to Do if You’ve Been the Victim of a Tailgating Attack

If you’re a victim of tailgating or suspect an intruder, promptly take the following steps. Quick action secures assets and gathers critical evidence to help catch past (and prevent future) piggyback intruders.

  1. Contact security immediately: Alert them that an unauthorized person gained access by following you in without proper credentials.
  2. Report the incident: Provide a detailed, formal statement to security describing the events for their investigation and review of access control procedures.
  3. Warn colleagues: Notify nearby coworkers of a potential intruder in the building to heighten overall vigilance.
  4. Secure your workstation: Log out of all active systems and lock sensitive devices/documents to prevent further access.
  5. Preserve evidence: If you interacted with the intruder, document their description, including distinguishing features, clothing, and any notable belongings.
  6. Review CCTV: Collaborate with security to locate the individual on camera system footage from entry points and throughout your movements.
  7. Check credentials: Verify that the intruder didn’t clone your badges or credentials, ensuring they haven’t been compromised for continued system access.
  8. Hire cybersecurity experts for professional guidance: Engage specialists to thoroughly analyze systems and data, determining the full scope of potential access or compromise. A cyber threat intelligence platform not only identifies but also helps to prevent future attacks. These experts can optimize your security infrastructure with strategic, tactical, and operational intelligence, keeping you ahead of potential tailgaters.

Protect Yourself Before and After Security Breaches with Group-IB

Combating tailgating can seem daunting as criminals continuously devise new ways to access restricted areas, exploiting human tendencies rather than technical vulnerabilities. While robust control systems for tailgating are effective, proactive prevention is the ultimate strategy to safeguard your data assets, protect sensitive information, and mitigate malware risks. By making prevention an ongoing effort, you can stay ahead of this persistent threat.

At Group-IB, we pride ourselves on our deep understanding of threat actors and ability to help you optimize your defenses against them. Our unified cybersecurity platform offers comprehensive protection against fraud, breaches, and brand abuse.

Don’t let criminals gain unauthorized access to your valuable data or spaces. Our expert anti-fraud analysts help you stay ahead by detecting, preventing, and combating fraud in real-time. Our cutting-edge fraud prevention solutions leverage advanced threat intelligence insights to provide unparalleled visibility and enable swift action.

Take the first step towards fortifying your organization against tailgating attacks and other cyber threats. Talk to our experts today and discover how Group-IB can enhance your security posture, protect your assets, and ensure your peace of mind in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

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Tailgating Attack FAQs

What is tailgating in cybersecurity?

Tailgating primarily refers to a physical security breach where an unauthorized individual gains access to a secure area by closely following an authorized person, often exploiting social behaviors like politeness or the assumption of legitimacy.

In the context of cybersecurity, tailgating usually applies to the physical aspect of security, rather than digital systems. It involves gaining unauthorized entry to restricted areas, such as server rooms or offices, by taking advantage of another person’s authorized access.

What organizations are at risk of tailgating attacks?

Organizations across all sectors and sizes are at risk of tailgating attacks. However, organizations with high-value assets, sensitive data, or large physical premises are particularly vulnerable. These include financial institutions, government agencies, healthcare providers, and large corporations.

Organizations with a high number of people going through premises, many entry and exit points, and multiple offices are at high risk of tailgating. Similarly, companies with complex digital infrastructures or extensive remote work setups may face an increased risk of digital tailgating attempts.

Why are tailgating attacks considered a social engineering threat?

Tailgating attacks are considered a form of social engineering because they exploit human behavior, trust, and social norms to bypass security measures. Tailgaters rely on manipulating natural human behaviors rather than technical hacking skills. They often exploit people’s politeness, desire to be helpful, or reluctance to question apparent authority figures.

By leveraging these psychological factors, tailgaters can often circumvent even the most sophisticated security systems without requiring advanced technical expertise, making it a prime example of social engineering in cybersecurity.

What’s the difference between a tailgating cyber attack and piggybacking?

Both tailgating and piggybacking exploit human behavior to gain unauthorized access, but they differ in the level of awareness and involvement from the authorized individual.

Tailgating is typically an opportunistic act where an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual through a secured entry point without the latter’s knowledge or consent. The unauthorized person relies on the authorized individual not noticing or challenging their entry.

Piggybacking, on the other hand, involves some degree of awareness or complicity from the authorized individual. In these scenarios, the authorized person may knowingly or unknowingly assist the unauthorized individual in gaining access, such as by holding the door open or swiping their access card for them.

While both methods pose significant security risks, piggybacking can be more difficult to detect and prevent because it often appears as if the unauthorized entry is sanctioned by the authorized individual.

What’s the difference between tailgating and pretexting?

Tailgating and pretexting are distinct social engineering techniques that differ in their methods and execution. Tailgating primarily involves following authorized individuals to gain physical or electronic access without their explicit consent or knowledge. It relies on opportunistic exploitation of human courtesy and security lapses.

Pretexting, on the other hand, is a more active and deceptive approach. It involves creating a fabricated scenario or assuming a false identity to manipulate targets into granting access or divulging sensitive information. Pretexters may operate in-person or remotely, actively engaging with their targets to gain trust, obtain consent for physical access, or to extract confidential data.

While both techniques exploit human vulnerabilities, pretexting typically requires more planning and social manipulation skills compared to the often spontaneous nature of tailgating attacks.