Final answer:
The option c)Social engineering is the process of gathering information for an attack by exploiting the weaknesses of individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe the process of gathering information for an attack by relying on the weaknesses of individuals is c. social engineering.
Social engineering is a technique used by hackers that focuses on manipulating individuals into breaking normal security procedures to gain access to systems, networks, or physical locations, or for financial gain. Instead of relying solely on technical methods, social engineering exploits the human element of security, taking advantage of people's trust, naivety, or lack of awareness.
Hackers use various methods such as pretexting, baiting, phishing, or impersonation to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. The information gathered through social engineering can be used for various malicious purposes, including identity theft, system infiltration, or financial fraud.