Never verbalize passwords or security codes.

Invest in some type of security screen or filter to obscure the visibility of your monitor.Be aware of your surroundings at all times, not just people but also video cameras that might be taking video of your actions.Locate an area where you can sit or stand with your back to the wall.Find a quiet spot along the outer fringes of the waiting area.OK, so what is a traveler to do when they find themselves in this kind of frenzied environment? Confirming your hotel reservation with credit card information while talking on your cell phone.Entering credit card information on your hand-held tablet while the person in line next to you shoots video from his phone.Are you aware of where that stranger’s attention is being focused? Entering personal information on your laptop while sitting next to a stranger.Let’s add to that the following opportunities which can also be easily exploited by a “shoulder surfer”: enter a code for a rented locker in a public place such as a swimming pool or airport.enter passwords at a cybercafe, public and university libraries, or airport kiosks.use a calling card at a public pay phone.enter their PIN at an automated teller machine or a POS terminal.Shoulder surfing is particularly effective in crowded places because it is relatively easy to observe someone as they:

Our friends at Wikipedia define shoulder surfing as: using direct observation techniques, such as looking over someone’s shoulder, to get information. Unfortunately, this kind of behavior leaves the traveler vulnerable to “shoulder surfing” techniques frequently used by identity thieves in this kind of overcrowded, and often-times chaotic, environment.

We’ve all encountered them: the businessman with the laptop, the real estate agent updating her contacts, and the self-centered individual that’s making reservations with a credit card over the phone. Have you been in an airport lately and noticed the large number of travelers using their laptops, tablets or mobile phones? While some people travel for leisure to escape always being “connected”, there are others who find it necessary to stay in touch.

Look over the shoulder at party