An act of gaining access to restricted areas and systems by following an authorized user is called what?

• A. Tailgating
• B. Phishing
• C. Trespass
• D. Break-in

Answer: (A)

Tailgating is the act of gaining access to restricted areas by following an authorized person through a door or gate. It hinges on exploiting the trust and routine behavior of someone who has already authenticated, slipping in behind them before the door closes. This makes it a physical security breach that defeats access controls by leveraging human action rather than breaking in or guessing a credential.

Phishing, by contrast, targets people to obtain credentials or sensitive information through deceptive electronic communications, not by physically following someone through a secured entry. Trespass means entering property without permission, but it doesn’t describe the specific method of piggybacking on an authorized user. Break-in refers to unlawful entry, often involving force or stealth, and does not capture the social tactic of tailgating.

To reduce tailgating risk, organizations implement measures like anti-tailgating doors or turnstiles, stricter badge access with alerts, visitor management, and security awareness training that reminds people not to let others piggyback through doors.