What type of sensitive data is typically targeted by phishing scams?

Phishing scams are designed to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information, which is often exploited by cybercriminals. Usernames and passwords are particularly sought after in these scams because they grant access to various accounts, including email, banking, and social media platforms. Once attackers obtain these credentials, they can compromise not only the individual account but may also leverage the information to gain access to other accounts that use similar login details.

Other types of sensitive data, such as medical records, Social Security numbers, and home addresses, can certainly be valuable and are indeed targeted in other types of identity theft or data breaches. However, phishing scams primarily focus on tricking individuals into providing their usernames and passwords because this immediately allows attackers to hijack accounts and exploit them directly, often leading to further financial gain.