tailers

Tailers are individuals or entities that follow another person or object in order to observe or monitor them. The activity is commonly called tailing and is associated with private investigation, security, or law enforcement. A tailer may be hired to track a subject’s movements, routine, or associations, or to monitor vehicle routes, deliveries, or the security of assets. Tailing can be conducted on foot, by vehicle, or through covert means, and may require careful planning to maintain concealment while gathering information. In professional contexts, tailing is often part of an authorized investigation with proper legal authority; in other cases it may constitute stalking or harassment and be illegal under applicable laws. Ethical and legal considerations are central to professional practice, with standards varying by jurisdiction.

The term tailer is occasionally confused with tailors, the makers of clothing, or with the surname Tailer. In computing and data work, the informal term tailer can describe a tool or script that outputs the trailing content of a file (such as a log file). This usage is informal and context-dependent, not a formal industry standard.

See also: tail (command), surveillance, private investigator, stalking laws.