What does tailgating or piggybacking refer to in security terms?

Tailgating, also referred to as piggybacking, specifically describes the act of an unauthorized individual following an authorized person into a secure area. This behavior poses significant security risks as it can bypass physical access controls in place, such as security badges or guards, effectively allowing an intruder to gain entry without legitimate clearance.

By blending in with those who are authorized, the unauthorized individual can exploit trust and create opportunities for malicious activities, such as theft of information, vandalism, or other forms of corporate espionage.

The other options highlight various security concerns but do not accurately capture the essence of tailgating. Copying data without permission relates to data breaches, monitoring network traffic deals with cybersecurity, and gaining access using stolen credentials refers to identity theft or credential misuse—all distinct from the concept of physically gaining access through following someone else.