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
Callback Phishing
Spam
Malware/Ransomware
Extortion
Reconnaissance
Tactics & Techniques (26):
Free file host
Social engineering
PDF
Free subdomain host
Impersonation: Brand
Out of band pivot
Impersonation: VIP
Image as content
Free email provider
Evasion
QR code
Open redirect
Encryption
Scripting
Spoofing
Lookalike domain
Impersonation: Employee
Exploit
Macros
Credential Phishing
HTML injection
HTML smuggling
OneNote
LNK
IPFS
ISO
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Service abuse: Behance document sharing with suspicious language
3d ago
Mar 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Free file host
Social engineering
Content analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: PDF bid/proposal lure with credential theft indicators
3d ago
Mar 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
Free file host
Free subdomain host
File analysis
Content analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
Exif analysis
Body: PayApp transaction reference pattern
3d ago
Mar 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
Credential phishing: Financial lure via ActiveCampaign infrastructure
3d ago
Mar 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Callback phishing in body or attachment (untrusted sender)
3d ago
Mar 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Business Email Compromise (BEC) with request for mobile number
4d ago
Mar 26th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Service abuse: AWS SNS callback scam impersonation
4d ago
Mar 26th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Callback phishing via Microsoft comment
4d ago
Mar 26th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Brand impersonation: Robinhood
4d ago
Mar 26th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
VIP impersonation with urgent request (strict match, untrusted sender)
5d ago
Mar 25th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Impersonation: VIP
Social engineering
Content analysis
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
VIP impersonation with BEC language (near match, untrusted sender)
5d ago
Mar 25th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Impersonation: VIP
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Brand impersonation: USPS
5d ago
Mar 25th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Credential phishing: Fake card notification with tracking lure
6d ago
Mar 24th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
Sender analysis
Link: Financial account issue with suspicious indicators
6d ago
Mar 24th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Free file host
Free subdomain host
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
Whois
Cloud storage impersonation with credential theft indicators
7d ago
Mar 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Free file host
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Optical Character Recognition
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Credential phishing: Suspicious subject with urgent financial request and link
7d ago
Mar 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Spam: Fake dating profile notification
10d ago
Mar 20th, 2026
Sublime Security
Spam
Free email provider
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Brand Impersonation: Procore
10d ago
Mar 20th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
Sender analysis
Link: PDF display text with fake copyright claim template
12d ago
Mar 18th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
Image as content
PDF
Content analysis
HTML analysis
EML attachment with credential theft language (unknown sender)
13d ago
Mar 17th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Content analysis
Header analysis
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