Shoulder Surfing

Pronunciation: /ˈʃoʊldər ˈsɜrfɪŋ/

Definitions of shoulder surfing

noun the act of spying on the information entered on a computer or other electronic device by looking over the shoulder of the person using it

Example Sentences

A1 Shoulder surfing is when someone looks over your shoulder to see your password.

A2 I heard about shoulder surfing, where people can steal your information by watching you type it in.

B1 It's important to be aware of shoulder surfing in public places, especially when entering sensitive information.

B2 To prevent shoulder surfing, it's recommended to shield your screen when typing in passwords or PIN numbers.

C1 Shoulder surfing is a common tactic used by hackers to gain access to confidential information.

C2 Companies should implement privacy filters on their screens to prevent shoulder surfing attacks in the workplace.

Examples of shoulder surfing in a Sentence

formal Shoulder surfing is a serious security risk in public places where sensitive information may be viewed by unauthorized individuals.

informal I caught someone shoulder surfing while I was typing my password at the coffee shop.

slang Dude, stop shoulder surfing me while I'm texting, it's annoying.

figurative In a crowded room, it feels like everyone is shoulder surfing your thoughts.

Grammatical Forms of shoulder surfing

• past tense: shoulder surfed
• plural: shoulder surfers
• comparative: more shoulder surfing
• superlative: most shoulder surfing
• present tense: shoulder surfs
• future tense: will shoulder surf
• perfect tense: has shoulder surfed
• continuous tense: is shoulder surfing
• singular: shoulder surfer
• positive degree: shoulder surf
• infinitive: to shoulder surf
• gerund: shoulder surfing
• participle: shoulder surfed

Origin and Evolution of shoulder surfing

First Known Use: 1980 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'shoulder surfing' originated as a colloquial expression to describe the act of spying on someone's computer or phone screen by looking over their shoulder.

Evolution of the word: Initially used in the context of information security and privacy breaches, 'shoulder surfing' has evolved to also encompass the broader concept of covertly observing someone in various situations to obtain information or gain an advantage.