- Shoulder surfing is using direct observation techniques, such as looking over someone's shoulder, to get
information. Shoulder surfing is an effective way to get information in crowded places because it's relatively easy to stand next
to someone and watch as they fill out a form, enter a PIN number at an ATM machine, or use a calling card
at a public pay phone. Shoulder surfing can also be done long distance with the aid of binoculars or other vision-enhancing
devices. To prevent shoulder surfing, experts recommend that you shield paperwork or your keypad from view by using your
body or cupping your hand.
Learn more about Security Awareness Training and Internal Threats
Quiz: Anatomy of an attack: Take this five-question quiz and test your knowledge of social-engineering and data-mining attacks.
Security Metrics: Replacing Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt: In this chapter excerpt from "Security Metrics: Replacing Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt," author Andrew Jaquith reveals ways to present security data in a clean and elegant manner.
Threats to physical security: The sixth tip in our series, "How to assess and mitigate information security threats".
LAST UPDATED:
20 Apr 2005
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- Shoulder surfing is using direct observation techniques, such as looking over someone's shoulder, to get
information. Shoulder surfing is an effective way to get information in crowded places because it's relatively easy to stand next
to someone and watch as they fill out a form, enter a PIN number at an ATM machine, or use a calling card
at a public pay phone. Shoulder surfing can also be done long distance with the aid of binoculars or other vision-enhancing
devices. To prevent shoulder surfing, experts recommend that you shield paperwork or your keypad from view by using your
body or cupping your hand.
