Introduction
Exploitation of vulnerable links within physical security frameworks is what tailgating actors do to breach cybersecurity. This is a bypass cybercrime activity that relies on deceiving kind humans having access to sensitive data. Tailgating lies at the intersection of social behavior and technology. Hence, detecting it becomes quite difficult. Read ahead to learn about tailgating, a social engineering cyber-attack.
What is Tailgating in Cybersecurity?
Tailgating breaches high-tech security measures as unauthorized attackers follow authorized personnel into security areas without passwords. It is a social engineering attack that allows an unauthorized person physical access to any controlled area to steal confidential information or do any other harm.
Through tailgating in cybersecurity, attackers target an organization’s physical security measures and exploit its personnel to breach security and have their hands on sensitive information. This cybercrime is focused more on human exploitation rather than digital vulnerabilities.
Tailgating attackers gain the trust of employees, maintenance workers, or new staff by observing them entering any secured location and impersonating them to avoid suspicion. If the attackers successfully breach security, they can connect to network ports or leave a device that can affect the system later. Organizations must strengthen their technological barriers and make workers aware of social engineering activities to prevent tailgating.
Some Examples of Tailgating Attack
Now, after knowing what tailgating is in cybersecurity, let us look at some stances of tailgating attacks. Here are some examples of tailgating in cybersecurity-
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Holding the Door
The perpetrator manipulates the targeted person to make them ‘hold the door’ on their behalf to enter a controlled area. They may disguise themselves as a co-worker or ask a person entering the targeted building to open the door for them by stating things like- they have forgotten their ID card or striking up a conversation with them.
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Acting as a Delivery Person
Attackers may act as a delivery person delivering parcels, meals, or any other item to avoid raising any suspicion regarding their presence.
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Borrowing Device
Tailgating attackers manipulate employees by giving them their laptops or smartphones to either install harmful software or copy credentials for criminal activities.
Measures to Prevent Tailgating
Tailgating may follow other cyber crimes like phishing, ransomware, and more. This socially engineered cyberattack has a broad purpose that is not limited to entering a controlled area; it then follows several other criminal activities to harm any enterprise. In order to prevent the long-term potential consequences of tailgating, strong security measures are to be adopted by organizations. With the below measures, you can prevent tailgating in cybersecurity.
Strengthening Security Control System
You can use advanced technologies to prevent tailgating and its likelihood. Tailgaters are likely to target organizations that have comparatively weak security control systems. This helps them penetrate entry control easily. If you are to beat smart cyber attackers, you need to think and act smartly.
Opting for the turnstile control mechanism is a good and effective option to ensure secured entry. It reduces the workload of busy security employees as well by permitting entry to one person at a time only if they have the required entrance credentials.
Strengthening the physical security system is extremely crucial as it will restrict the entrance of unauthorized attackers into a building or premises. Along with smart card entry, security systems like biometric locks or hiring professional security officers can add an extra layer of physical access security. Individual badges are another way of increasing access security to ensure only authorized personnel and visitors wear the badges after security checks.
Machine Learning in Video Surveillance
Installing a video surveillance system at the entrance can also help prevent tailgating as a cybercrime. Video surveillance can identify intruders and can also distinguish tailgaters from real employees. Machine learning is doing this wonder in preventing cybercrimes.
Sensor-driven People Entrance Monitoring
Every time a tailgating incident happens in your organization, you can hear that automated alarm. With a sensor-based automated system, you can now get automated notifications about tailgating, as this system can detect multiple entrances under one access credential.
Educating and Training Employees about Tailgating
Increasing employee awareness and preparing them to prevent tailgating is the most basic yet significant preventive measure. With a comprehensive training facility, employees can be educated and trained to identify socially engineered activities so that they can save them from manipulation by unauthorized persons.
Conclusion
Security measures are designed to bolster organizations’ defense mechanisms against tailgaters. As they look for the opportunity to exploit human error and illegal access to sensitive information, your organization can be prepared beforehand by deploying these measures. So, now that you know what is tailgating in cybersecurity, you can make yourself ready to prevent such activities with a robust defense mechanism.
