Which statement best describes untargeted attacks?

Untargeted attacks are best characterized as indiscriminate and often automated. This means that they do not focus on a specific individual or organization but are designed to reach as many potential victims as possible. Such attacks typically utilize automated tools or scripts that can be deployed en masse, targeting vulnerabilities within a large number of users or systems without prior knowledge about the specific targets. This broad approach makes them particularly difficult to defend against, as the attackers are not concerned with the identity or characteristics of the victims. The goal is to exploit common vulnerabilities widely found in software or systems that many users may have, rather than to customize an attack for a particular target's defenses.

The other choices offer descriptions that do not align with the characteristics of untargeted attacks. For example, stating that they are crafted specifically for a target contradicts the very nature of being untargeted. Similarly, the assertion that they require manual intervention suggests a more deliberate and tailored approach, which is characteristic of targeted attacks. Finally, the idea that they occur only during cybersecurity drills is misleading, as untargeted attacks can happen at any time in real-world scenarios, independent of training exercises.