Once the attacker gets inside and has access to the sensitive assets, such as the database and main server, it can lead to far-reaching consequences. They can steal your business details, use your company infrastructure to launch big-scale attacks, scam your clients by reaching them using your server, and damage your company’s reputation. Attackers can also hijack your systems and servers and ask for ransom to reinstate all things back to normal conditions. It can disrupt the whole security operations, leading to big financial losses and damages.
This write-up gives a detailed account of tailgating attacks and how they exploit human behavior to bypass the security barriers in a building’s premises to get inside the critical areas of the building. Along with this, you will get effective tips to prevent tailgating attacks and stay protected from scammers and bad actors. So let’s get started!
How Tailgating Attacks Exploit Human Behavior?
In a tail-gating attack, Attackers use different tactics to get access to the sensitive zones of a building. They use social engineering tactics to hack human behavior and trick people into doing things unknowingly that lead to compromised security. Here are some examples of how it works:
1. Exploiting Politeness and Courtesy
Attackers exploit human desire to be kind and helpful to others. They can ask to hold a door for me at the main gateway to a sensitive area facility by making an excuse, I have both my hands full or I left my badge inside or at home. Anyone who gets this talk can melt right away and willingly move forward to ease the petty difficulty of the person without much thinking. But they forget the fact that they are allowing a bad actor access to the restricted area.
2. Taking Advantage of Authority or Familiarity
Sometimes attackers act and behave like employees of the same organization. They dress and wear the same uniform and pretend to be members of an important team inside the company. When they enter the facility, other employees or security guards at the entrance do not ask them about their identity or position. They directly enter the facility and reach the key areas inside the facility. After intruding the facility, they start doing all types of malicious activities such as data theft, operation disruptions, and damages. In this case, attackers exploit trust in authority and familiarity bias in the employee’s behavior.
3. Using Social Pressure
Bad actors often exploit people`s fear of embarrassment or conflict, in which they show themselves offended when someone asks them about what they are doing inside the sensitive zone. On the other hand, people working in the arena often avoid conflict or confrontation with people, as it can lead to embarrassment and hostility. Due to this reason, when they see someone stranger in their office arena they do not take the chance to ask them about their presence. Attackers take advantage of this indifference in the office employee and exploit this to intrude in the office. They easily tailgate in the restricted area and fulfill their purposes.
4. Leveraging Distraction or Busyness
Bad actors often easily bypass the security barriers in office arenas where everyone is busy with their own work, rushing across the office without paying attention to what is going on around or who is entering behind them. In such situations, things become easier for the bad actors to do tailgating. They rely on this rushing and inattention environment of the office, and silently slip in without anyone getting noticed by anyone. They leverage the distraction and busyness in the office arena to do the tailgating successfully.
5. Manipulating Empathy
Attackers exploit the element of empathy in people who cannot see others in trouble. They show themselves to be incapable and weak, needing help to do small tasks. In this process, bad actors invoke feelings of compassion and empathy in the people to help. People see this situation and start helping them. But they forget that they are unknowingly giving access to the people who are trying to bypass the security measures set up in the arena. So, by manipulating the empathy in people, they get access to the sensitive areas and do all types of malicious activities, such as stealing data, creating disruptions, and causing damage in private.
How to Prevent Tailgating Attacks?
Preventing tailgating is highly important to protect your organization and infrastructure from bad actors. You have to stay alert and awake while working in your company. One mistake can lead to big security breaches and unauthorized access to the sensitive zones in your organization and company. So, along with awareness, it is highly important that you implement proper security protocols to prevent tailgating attacks. Here are some effective tips that can help you enhance your security and prevent tailgating attacks:
1. Implement Access Control Systems
Use secure authentication methods like:
- Smart card / RFID badge access
- Biometric scanners (fingerprint, face, iris)
- Mobile-based access apps (digital badges)
- Ensure doors close automatically and lock instantly after entry.
2. Educate Employees
Human behavior is the weakest link in tailgating attacks. You must train staff to:
- Never let anyone in without a proper ID or badge.
- Report strangers in restricted areas.
- Politely refuse entry to unknown persons.
- Avoid “holding the door” for others in secure zones.
3. Use Physical Barriers
Strengthen entry points with:
- Mantraps (security vestibules) allow one person at a time.
- Turnstiles or revolving doors with access control.
- Automatic doors that lock after each authorized entry.
- These make it physically difficult to tailgate.
4. Security Awareness Campaigns
Regularly remind employees about tailgating risks using:
- Posters at entry points.
- Security awareness emails.
- Mock tailgating drills to test alertness.
- Encourage strong password hygiene and safe browsing habits.
- Simulate phishing tests to gauge awareness levels.
5. Install Surveillance Systems
- Use CCTV cameras at all entry/exit points.
- Employ AI-based video analytics to detect multiple entries per authentication.
- Ensure real-time monitoring by security staff.
6. Visitor Management System
- Require visitor registration and temporary badges.
- Always escort visitors in restricted zones.
- Log entry/exit times.
7. Deploy Security Guards or Reception Staff
- Station trained guards at high-security areas.
- Verify every person’s ID badge visually.
- Empower guards to deny access if unsure.
8. Enable Two-Factor Authentication for Entry
For critical environments (like data centers):
- Combine badge + PIN, or badge + biometric for entry.
- This ensures stolen badges alone cannot be used.
9. Regular Audits & Access Reviews
- Review access logs regularly to detect anomalies.
- Revoke access for ex-employees immediately.
- Conduct periodic physical security audits.
10. Regular Backup and Disaster Recovery
- Maintain automated backups of critical data (daily/weekly).
- Store backups offline or in secure cloud vaults.
- Test data restoration now and then.
11. Use Antivirus Software
- Use antivirus or endpoint protection to protect systems.
- Configure automatic updates for virus definitions and scans.
- Schedule weekly full system scans on all endpoints.
- Enable real-time protection to block malicious files, scripts, or downloads.
