What term best describes the practice of manipulating someone to divulge sensitive information?

The term "social engineering" accurately describes the practice of manipulating individuals into revealing sensitive information. This technique often involves exploiting psychological factors rather than relying on technical means. Social engineering tactics can include impersonating someone the target knows, creating a sense of urgency, or building rapport to gain trust. The essence of social engineering lies in its focus on human interaction and influence, making it a potent tool for fraudsters who aim to bypass security protocols and obtain confidential data.

In contrast, information theft typically refers to the act of stealing data directly, which may not necessarily involve manipulation or human interaction. Coercion suggests the use of force or intimidation to obtain information, which is a different approach than the subtler techniques employed in social engineering. While manipulation is a broader term that could apply to various contexts, in the realm of information security, social engineering is the specific term used to describe tactics that leverage psychological manipulation to extract sensitive information from individuals.