Everything You Need To Know About Shoulder Surfing

Everything you need to know about Shoulder Surfing

In the event that you're concerned about identity theft or being hacked, there are a number of precautions you can take to keep yourself safe. These include being selective about the websites you visit and the emails you open.

The importance of being aware of your surroundings when entering private information is another step that is frequently overlooked, however. This is a mistake because it leaves you vulnerable to a practice known as shoulder surfing, which is described below.

So, what exactly is shoulder surfing, and how can you keep yourself safe from being victimized by it?

What Is the Definition of Shoulder Surfing?

Shoulder surfing is the act of keeping an eye on someone while they reveal personal information. An ATM, a computer, or a phone are examples of electronic devices that the victim is likely to use in the process.

If you are watching someone, you are engaging in shoulder surfing, which is a form of social engineering that criminals use in the hopes of stealing from the person being watched. It can happen at random (for example, if the victim is being careless) or it can be a planned attack with a specific target.

Using the technique of shoulder surfing, you can steal any type of information. It's most commonly used to discover passwords, payment information, and PINs, among other things.

However, it can also be used to steal personal information for the purpose of identity theft, which is illegal. The latter is particularly simple to accomplish because many people will not hesitate to reveal such personal information in public.

Examples of Shoulder Surfing

Shoulder surfing is a common practice at automated teller machines. The only thing that needs to be done if you don't cover your hand while entering your PIN is for someone to stand behind you on either side of the keyboard.

This is profitable because some ATM machines will ask you if you want to proceed with the transaction at the end of the transaction. If you do not expressly deny access, the person in line after you will be able to access your account by simply reentering your PIN.

If an ATM is equipped with this feature, it is not uncommon for thieves to form a line in the hopes of stealing from someone who is in a hurry.

In any location where people have access to the internet, shoulder surfing can be practiced. An obvious example is a cafe where people sit and work on laptop computers. However, a crowded train car full of people who are glued to their phones can provide the same kind of opportunity.

If you are looking to steal information from documents such as application forms, you should consider shoulder surfing. It has never been easier to carry out such attacks than it is now, thanks to the increased sophistication of smart phone cameras. Thieves only need to wait somewhere with forms that ask for their social security number in order to get away with it.

Shoulder surfing is a technique that can be used to gain access to secure areas, such as apartment buildings. Using a PIN to open the door is simple; all that's required is that you wait long enough for someone to walk through the door. By wearing a delivery uniform, a professional will be able to avoid being suspected.

How Frequently Does Shoulder Surfing Should Place?

How frequently people engage in shoulder surfing is difficult to determine. When a successful shoulder surfing attack is carried out, the victim is completely unaware that they are being observed. And even after the stolen information has been used, the victim is frequently unaware of the unauthorized activity.

In the case of phishing, a data breach, or malware, the theft of a password could be caused by any of these methods. It is only after all of these possibilities have been ruled out that victims may begin to suspect that they are being watched.

Shoulder surfing is not a new activity, and it actually predates the widespread use of the internet by several years. It was originally developed by people who wanted to steal phone card numbers in order to make calls. In the 1980s, criminals would stand around (sometimes with binoculars in hand!) waiting for someone to use a payphone, which they would then steal.

Shoulder surfing evidence is now primarily found on ATM cameras, which is not surprising. It's also frequently used to explain how hackers are able to gain access to restricted systems despite the fact that the systems are otherwise well-protected.

The majority of the time, shoulder surfing is performed over short distances, but this is not always the case. Binoculars are particularly popular at ATM machines, and a hidden camera can be easily placed outside a pin-operated door to observe what is going on inside.

Shoulder Surfing and How to Avoid It

Shoulder surfing isn't difficult to avoid once you know how. Its effectiveness is largely dependent on the fact that the victim is completely unaware of the practice.

• Pay Close Attention When Using ATMs: When using an ATM, keep an eye on your surroundings at all times. Always cover your hand when entering your PIN, take a few steps back and look around you before proceeding, and make sure the transaction is complete before leaving.
• Keep an eye on where you're sitting: If you have to enter sensitive information in public, take the time to pull over to a safe location. For example, if you're going to a cafe with the intention of using an electronic device, choose a seat that allows you to sit with your back against the wall. Waiting until you are alone is usually the best option when dealing with particularly sensitive information, such as payment information.
• Make use of a Password Manager: Password managers are useful for storing passwords that are difficult to guess as well as protecting against malware. They can also protect you from being hit by a wave from behind. Once the software is installed, you can log into any of your accounts without disclosing too much information.
• Make use of two-factor authentication: Any account that provides two-factor authentication (2FA) should have it enabled. 2FA prevents anyone from accessing your accounts with your password unless they also have access to a personal device, such as your smartphone, in addition to your password. Shoulder surfing is rendered completely ineffective in the absence of this device.
• Make use of a privacy screen: If you're concerned about other people seeing what you're doing on your laptop, you might want to consider installing a privacy screen. This is a transparent screen cover that is intended to reduce the viewing angles on your computer screen. The goal is to make it impossible to read text on a screen unless you are directly in front of the screen.