What is a typical characteristic of phishing attacks?

Phishing attacks are primarily designed to trick individuals into providing sensitive personal information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers. A common tactic used in phishing is to send communications that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks or popular online services, and these messages often contain prompts asking users to verify their accounts, update their information, or rectify problems by entering personal data.

While offers of technical support, free software downloads, and performance tips may also be methods used in various types of scams, they do not capture the quintessential aim of phishing, which is to deceive individuals into divulging their sensitive data. The hallmark feature of phishing is the direct solicitation for personal information under the guise of legitimacy.