What is the act of searching through trash to find personal data known as?

The act of searching through trash to find personal data is known as dumpster diving. This term specifically refers to the practice of sifting through refuse to locate documentations or items that contain sensitive information, such as bank statements, credit card offers, and personal records. Criminals often engage in this activity to collect data that can be used for identity theft or fraud.

In contrast, spoofing involves disguising communication from an unknown source as being from a trusted source, while shoulder surfing refers to the act of observing someone’s private information, such as through a shoulder glance at a password or PIN. Identity theft encompasses a broad range of fraudulent activities whereby someone's personal information is misappropriated to commit fraud, but it does not specifically refer to the act of searching through trash. Each of these activities represents distinct methods of acquiring personal data, making dumpster diving the correct answer in this context.