What are Tailgating?

Tailgating is a term that refers to the practice of parking along the side of a road, usually by an open field or parking lot. Tailgaters are not only prohibited from entering the highway itself, but also have no right to drive on it at all. The term “tailgater” comes from tail-end Charlie, which means last car in line (the rear end). This type of driving was common during World War II, when gasoline rationing was in effect and many people would park their cars along roadsides for fear they might run out of gas.

Tailgating:

• In IT security, it’s easy to see the value of the long column of users walking through the access control door and assume that each is allowed to enter. It’s very difficult for a guard or camera to verify that this person is supposed to be there.
• This is where we start with tailgating it’s as simple as keeping that same basic concept in mind, using a valid authorized user who has already had identity verified access and then moving in behind them unnoticed. If you can get into a facility this way, you won’t need any other authorized credentials or weaknesses in security hardware or software to get inside.
• Tailgating in Ethical Hacking is a term that refers to people who hack remotely and without authorization. Though the penetration testing process is a form of hacking, it is not what many might consider ethical. This term typically applies to hackers who are looking for information or money after compromising a system in order to give the client full access and control, then disappearing before being caught.
• The term “You can trust my code” is a form of “under the table” or “under the table arrangement”. It means that the engineer will write a piece of code for someone else and then pay him for it before passing it along to the client. The engineer who receives payment will not be required to sign a document or ethical hacking test.
• The term “Penetration tester” is used by some in the industry when describing themselves and is also a buzzword that can be used on resumes to earn them a salary as an employee at a company, as well as prospective employers.
• The term “White Hat” is a name that describes a hacker who has permission to be on a computer network, typically by owning the computer or having permission from an administrator to be there, and is specifically looking for vulnerabilities and ways to improve security. At the end of their testing, or before they leave, they will fix or eradicate any issues that have been found. It is important to note that this type of hacker is not concerned with making money off of their findings.
• The term “Black Hat” on the other hand, refers to hackers who are looking for ways in order to make money by breaking into systems and stealing information or data.

Work and feature:

It functions as a security measure. For example, if your company has a strict no-trespassing policy, then tailgating would allow you to stay on the premises until a certain time. 

• This can also be seen in other public places such as schools, government buildings, airports, and libraries where there are restricted zones for people entering or exiting during specific times. This solution is better than going for an unauthorized entry because it prevents criminal activity which might lead to wrongful arrest or destruction of evidence.
• A tailgate can be used to get inside a building, building information systems (BIS), computer or smart card for the purpose of stealing information which would otherwise not be possible. Tailgating is used in the process of entering into networks or computers in order to search and remove data from them. 
• One can also use the network bridge feature to connect two networks together, which could let people from one network start using the resources of another.
• One can also go through this method if he/she is personally acquainted with someone who works at that location. If you are able to steal any confidential information without any problems, then you could also use it for personal gain by selling your stolen data or by making plans for other people’s investments.

Threat of Tailgating:

• The most talked about danger is the threat of identity theft. If a network is compromised through this method, it can lead to the loss of confidential information, which could lead to misuse in many other ways.
• If a person does not have proper authorization for entering an area, then he/she can also be seen as a person who is trying to steal data from that particular area, and thus can be charged with trespassing.
• If someone has been authorized for an area, but then leaves without completing the task that he/she was given, then it could lead to a decrease in productivity which would impact the organization’s growth.

Countermeasures:

• In order to get access to any areas, one must be able to display proper authorization for entering. 
• By providing proper identification cards, you can use this as your key for accessing certain areas. Having a passphrase or password can also help in protecting against this method of entry into a building or computer system.
• The most common form of identification is the card that has the photo of the person along with their name and other identifying features such as date of birth and address etc.
• In the United States, identification cards have gradually become mandatory for many activities such as signing up with government agencies and making payments at certain places like hospitals etc.