What aspect of phishing emails often appears generic and lacks personalization?

The correct answer highlights how phishing emails frequently use generic salutations, which contribute to their lack of personalization. Phishing attempts are typically designed to target a large number of recipients at once, so attackers often use vague greetings like "Dear customer" instead of addressing the recipient by their name. This is a telltale sign of a phishing attempt, as legitimate organizations usually take the time to personalize their communication to build trust and engagement with their customers.

In contrast, urgency in the messaging can vary in phishing emails; sometimes they do create a sense of urgency to prompt quick action. The use of personal email addresses can be a tactic employed by attackers to appear more convincing, though this is not always the case in generic phishing setups. Content targeting specific individuals is contrary to the nature of most phishing emails, which are broadly cast to elicit responses from a wide audience rather than being tailored to specific recipients.