What term describes looking over someone's shoulder to obtain information from their device?

• A. Shoulder Surfing
• B. Eavesdropping
• C. Keylogging
• D. Social Engineering

Answer: (A)

Shoulder surfing is the act of visually observing someone’s screen or keyboard to capture sensitive data as it’s entered or displayed. The defining idea is the attacker’s physical vantage point—standing nearby and watching you type or what appears on your device—to obtain information like passwords or PINs. That’s why it fits best: the method relies on direct visual access in the moment, often in public spaces or crowded places.

Eavesdropping would involve listening to communications rather than watching a screen. Keylogging refers to covertly recording keystrokes, typically via software or hardware, without relying on someone looking over your shoulder. Social engineering, on the other hand, involves manipulating people to reveal information rather than directly observing it. So the shoulder‑surfing description precisely matches the scenario of obtaining data by looking at someone’s device.