Detection Method: Content analysis

Content analysis looks at the language and structure of a message to identify signs of phishing, social engineering, and other malicious intent. Instead of scanning for keywords, this method uses natural language understanding (NLU) to detect meaning, intent, and tone across the message.
Content analysis helps detect:
  • BEC attempts with urgent messages from executive impersonators
  • Credential phishing disguised as login or document notifications
  • Callback scams posing as account renewals or fake support
  • Extortion threats or blackmail messages
  • Financial or personal data requests in suspicious contexts
  • Fake job offers targeting employees
  • Invoice fraud, payroll fraud, and more
For example, a phishing email may impersonate a CFO asking for a wire transfer. Content analysis can flag the urgent tone, financial context, and impersonation attempt.
Blog Posts
Hiding a $50,000 BEC financial fraud in a fake email thread · Blog · Sublime Security
Hiding a $50,000 BEC financial fraud in a fake email thread · Blog · Sublime Security
Callback phishing via invoice abuse and distribution list relays · Blog · Sublime Security
Callback phishing via invoice abuse and distribution list relays · Blog · Sublime Security
Hidden credential phishing within EML attachments · Blog · Sublime Security
Hidden credential phishing within EML attachments · Blog · Sublime Security
Living Off the Land: Credential Phishing via Docusign abuse · Blog · Sublime Security
Living Off the Land: Credential Phishing via Docusign abuse · Blog · Sublime Security
Living Off the Land: Callback Phishing via Docusign comment · Blog · Sublime Security
Living Off the Land: Callback Phishing via Docusign comment · Blog · Sublime Security
Adversarial ML: Extortion via LLM Manipulation Tactics · Blog · Sublime Security
Adversarial ML: Extortion via LLM Manipulation Tactics · Blog · Sublime Security
Fake invoice used to conduct $16,800 BEC attempt · Blog · Sublime Security
Fake invoice used to conduct $16,800 BEC attempt · Blog · Sublime Security
QR Code Phishing: Decoding Hidden Threats · Blog · Sublime Security
QR Code Phishing: Decoding Hidden Threats · Blog · Sublime Security
Call Me Maybe? The Rise of Callback Phishing Emails · Blog · Sublime Security
Call Me Maybe? The Rise of Callback Phishing Emails · Blog · Sublime Security
Detecting QakBot: WSF attachments, OneNote files, and generic attack surface reduction · Blog · Sublime Security
Detecting QakBot: WSF attachments, OneNote files, and generic attack surface reduction · Blog · Sublime Security
Attack Types (7):
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Extortion
Callback Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Spam
Reconnaissance
Tactics & Techniques (26):
Social engineering
Impersonation: Brand
Evasion
Free subdomain host
Credential Phishing
Spoofing
Free email provider
Out of band pivot
Lookalike domain
PDF
Image as content
Free file host
Encryption
Impersonation: Employee
Exploit
HTML smuggling
Scripting
Open redirect
Macros
Impersonation: VIP
HTML injection
QR code
LNK
OneNote
IPFS
ISO
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Link: Personal SharePoint with invalid recipients and credential theft language
16m ago
Jan 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-personal-sharepoint-with-invalid-recipients-and-credential-theft-language-79d5403d
Brand impersonation: File sharing notification with template artifacts
16m ago
Jan 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Evasion
HTML analysis
Computer Vision
Content analysis
Header analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/brand-impersonation-file-sharing-notification-with-template-artifacts-37d89611
Link: Tycoon2FA phishing kit (non-exhaustive)
12h ago
Jan 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Free subdomain host
Evasion
Credential Phishing
URL analysis
HTML analysis
Content analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-tycoon2fa-phishing-kit-non-exhaustive-a070d4e2
Service abuse: Adobe legitimate domain with document approval language
15h ago
Jan 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/service-abuse-adobe-legitimate-domain-with-document-approval-language-237f4da4
Extortion / sextortion (untrusted sender)
20h ago
Jan 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Extortion
Social engineering
Spoofing
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/extortion-sextortion-untrusted-sender-265913eb
Link: Suspicious URL with recipient targeting and special characters
21h ago
Jan 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Evasion
URL analysis
Content analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-suspicious-url-with-recipient-targeting-and-special-characters-e808be3a
BEC/Fraud: Romance scam
23h ago
Jan 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Free email provider
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/becfraud-romance-scam-0243cdaa
Fake voicemail notification (untrusted sender)
1d ago
Jan 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/fake-voicemail-notification-untrusted-sender-74ba7787
Service abuse: Microsoft Power BI callback scam
1d ago
Jan 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/service-abuse-microsoft-power-bi-callback-scam-7a55388e
Brand impersonation: Dropbox
1d ago
Jan 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/brand-impersonation-dropbox-61f11d12
Callback phishing in body or attachment (untrusted sender)
1d ago
Jan 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/callback-phishing-in-body-or-attachment-untrusted-sender-b93c6f94
Brand impersonation: AuthentiSign
2d ago
Jan 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Impersonation: Brand
Lookalike domain
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/brand-impersonation-authentisign-445a8c8b
Attachment: Invoice and W-9 PDFs with suspicious creators
2d ago
Jan 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
PDF
Social engineering
Impersonation: Brand
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Exif analysis
Content analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-invoice-and-w-9-pdfs-with-suspicious-creators-305d6e32
Link: Display text with excessive right-to-left mark characters
2d ago
Jan 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Content analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-display-text-with-excessive-right-to-left-mark-characters-a45cfd4c
Link: Self-sent message with quarterly document review request
2d ago
Jan 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Evasion
Content analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-self-sent-message-with-quarterly-document-review-request-3c42cec6
Job scam with specific salary pattern
2d ago
Jan 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Header analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/job-scam-with-specific-salary-pattern-af7f9e21
Brand impersonation: Fake Fax
2d ago
Jan 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Image as content
Free file host
Free subdomain host
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Sender analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/brand-impersonation-fake-fax-2a96b90a
Link: Excessive URL rewrite encoders
2d ago
Jan 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Encryption
Evasion
URL analysis
Content analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-excessive-url-rewrite-encoders-b88e53a7
Brand impersonation: USPS
3d ago
Jan 20th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/brand-impersonation-usps-28b9130a
Impersonation: Internal corporate services
3d ago
Jan 20th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Employee
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/impersonation-internal-corporate-services-3cd04f33
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