What term describes entering a secured area by following an authorized user?

What term describes entering a secured area by following an authorized user?

• A. Shoulder Surfing
• B. Piggybacking
• C. Tailgating
• D. Eavesdropping

Answer: (B)

Entering a secured area by closely following an authorized user is piggybacking. The idea is that someone with legitimate access helps another person gain entry by simply walking in behind them, often exploiting doors that unlock for the first person or a moment of courtesy when someone holds a door open. This highlights a social trust vulnerability in entry controls: authentication happens for the first person, but the second person isn’t re-authenticated. Shoulder surfing and eavesdropping describe different risks—watching someone type a password or badge number, or listening in on conversations. Tailgating is a term you’ll sometimes see used for the same behavior, but in this context piggybacking is the accepted description of one person piggybacking on another’s access.

Entering a secured area by closely following an authorized user is piggybacking. The idea is that someone with legitimate access helps another person gain entry by simply walking in behind them, often exploiting doors that unlock for the first person or a moment of courtesy when someone holds a door open. This highlights a social trust vulnerability in entry controls: authentication happens for the first person, but the second person isn’t re-authenticated.

Shoulder surfing and eavesdropping describe different risks—watching someone type a password or badge number, or listening in on conversations. Tailgating is a term you’ll sometimes see used for the same behavior, but in this context piggybacking is the accepted description of one person piggybacking on another’s access.