Hack Your Way to Success: 2025 Ethical Hacking Essentials Challenge – Level Up Your Skills!

The correct technique that describes an attacker gaining unauthorized access to a physical space by following someone who has legitimate access is commonly known as tailgating. This method occurs when an individual without proper credentials closely follows an authorized person into a secure area, taking advantage of the openness and courtesy that people often extend to those they believe are authorized.

In this scenario, the authorized individual may open a door or gate, and the unauthorized individual slips in right behind them, effectively bypassing security measures without confrontation. Tailgating exploits human behavior and a general tendency of people to hold doors or gates open for others, making it a prevalent tactic in physical security breaches.

The other techniques mentioned serve different purposes. For instance, piggybacking is similar but often implies a more collaborative approach where the authorized user is aware that someone else is accompanying them. Shoulder surfing refers to observing someone else’s confidential information, typically from a distance, such as watching them enter a password on a device. Eavesdropping involves listening to private conversations, usually involving audio rather than physical security breaches. These distinctions emphasize why tailgating is the most accurate description for the technique of following someone into a secure area.