What term describes the act of manipulating individuals into providing confidential information?

The term that describes the act of manipulating individuals into providing confidential information is social engineering. This practice involves psychological tactics aimed at tricking people into divulging sensitive data, often under the guise of legitimate requests. Social engineers exploit human emotions, such as trust or fear, to convince individuals to share personal information, such as passwords or social security numbers, which would not normally be given out.

While phishing is a form of social engineering that typically occurs through electronic communications, such as emails or messages designed to look like they come from a trusted source, social engineering encompasses a broader range of techniques and methods. Hacking refers to unauthorized access to systems or networks, and a data breach involves the illicit acquisition of sensitive data from a system. However, social engineering specifically focuses on the human element, which is why it is the most suitable term for this scenario.