Which of the following represents a type of unauthorized access to data?

The concept of unauthorized access to data is well exemplified by identity theft. This occurs when someone illegally obtains personal information, often with the intent to commit fraud or other crimes. In identity theft, an individual gains access to another person's sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or financial data, without permission. This action directly violates privacy and security protocols, making it a clear case of unauthorized access.

In contrast, data mining, while it involves analyzing large datasets for patterns, is typically performed under proper authorization and with user consent. Data encryption is a security measure used to protect data from unauthorized access by converting information into a secure format that can only be read or processed by someone with the correct decryption key. Data processing refers to handling or manipulating data to convert it into useful information and does not inherently involve unauthorized access.

Thus, identity theft stands out as the most definitive example of unauthorized access in this context.