What is the action of stealing data known as?

The action of stealing data is appropriately termed "data and information theft." This term encompasses various forms of unauthorized data acquisition where sensitive or proprietary information is taken without permission from its owner. The definition accurately reflects the illicit nature of acquiring data, which may be used for malicious purposes such as identity theft, corporate espionage, or unauthorized access to confidential information.

Other choices do not fit the context as specifically or accurately. A personal challenge does not relate to the wrongful act of stealing data, as it suggests an internal or personal endeavor rather than an act of theft. Financial espionage indeed involves stealing information, particularly in financial contexts, but it’s narrower in scope compared to the broader term of data and information theft. Lastly, system disruption refers to activities aimed at interrupting the normal functioning of computer systems rather than specifically focusing on the act of stealing data itself. Each of these alternatives lacks the precision needed to describe the act of stealing data.