{"id":2882,"date":"2023-09-13T12:00:43","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T10:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hwgsababa.com\/?p=2882"},"modified":"2025-10-22T12:32:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T10:32:26","slug":"what-are-tailgating-and-piggybacking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hwgsababa.com\/en\/what-are-tailgating-and-piggybacking\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Tailgating and Piggybacking?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tailgating and Piggybacking<\/strong> are two social engineering practices. They exploit the human factor to violate areas reserved for authorized personnel. It brings consequent risk for security of both physical and information systems.<\/h3>\n

Let us find out what exactly we are talking about, and understand how these scenarios are applicable to both physical and IT security. There is a subtle difference between the meaning of Tailgating and Piggybacking.<\/p>\n

Tailgating<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0represents the situation, when an individual without access authorization closely follows an authorized person in a reserved area. The malefactor takes advantage of the moment, when the authorized one opens the door with his badge \u2013 and sneaks inside before the door closes.<\/p>\n

Piggybacking<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0represents the situation, when someone accesses a reserved area with the permission obtained by deception of an authorized person.<\/p>\n

How do Tailgating and Piggybacking happen in practice?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

If you watched the film with Leonardo DiCaprio \u201cCatch me if you can\u201d, you would remember the smart character of the famous swindler Frank Abagnale he played. The fraudster entered restricted areas in airports and hospitals by pretending a doctor or an airplane pilot. He succeeded through deception and cunning, causing financial damage to the companies he cheated.<\/p>\n

Such criminals pose a serious problem for companies, as they violate the law, often with criminal intent. Those who aim to gain access without authorization, can be well-dressed and introduce themselves as customers to fool the security personnel. Or they can appear dressed as couriers, carrying bulky parcels, asking someone from the staff outside to open the entrance door with a company badge.<\/p>\n

Sad but true, that people\u2019s kindness and ingenuity often helps fraudsters. They manage to access restricted areas, exposing corporate assets and confidential data at risk. Anyone who attempts to get an unauthorized access is aware of these \u201cweaknesses\u201d and uses them to get what he wants.<\/p>\n

Would you let someone you do not know enter your home? Even if he asked you kindly and good manners? You would probably think twice before doing it, as it can pose a safety risk to yourself and your beloved.<\/p>\n

What can you do to protect the corporate space against Tailgating and Piggybacking?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The same attitude is valid for the safety of your workplace. If you notice a stranger without a badge in your company, you need to follow some security procedures. Most companies have security policies describing access rules to reserved spaces. If you have never heard of them, ask to put them into practice.<\/p>\n