What is the main definition of "shoulder surfing"?

Shoulder surfing refers specifically to the practice of watching an authorized user enter sensitive information, such as a password or security code, while they are doing so in a public setting. This method typically involves looking over someone's shoulder, hence the term "shoulder surfing." It is a social engineering technique where the observer exploits the user's moment of vulnerability to gain access to confidential information.

While the concept of observing someone’s online activities remotely might sound plausible, it does not capture the physical and personal aspect that shoulder surfing entails. Additionally, hacking into a personal device involves technical breaches rather than direct observation of user input. The use of binoculars to spy on a computer screen, although it involves observing, is too extreme and not the typical context associated with shoulder surfing, which generally occurs in close proximity rather than from a distance. In essence, the act of watching someone enter a security code directly aligns with the definition of shoulder surfing, emphasizing the immediate interaction in physical spaces.