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):
BEC/Fraud
Callback Phishing
Spam
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Extortion
Reconnaissance
Tactics & Techniques (25):
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Free email provider
Evasion
Free subdomain host
Lookalike domain
Open redirect
Free file host
PDF
QR code
Image as content
Out of band pivot
Spoofing
Encryption
HTML smuggling
Impersonation: VIP
Impersonation: Employee
Scripting
Exploit
Macros
Credential Phishing
LNK
OneNote
HTML injection
IPFS
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
BEC/Fraud: Urgent language and suspicious sending/infrastructure patterns
3d ago
Apr 17th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Callback Phishing
Spam
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Free email provider
Content analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Whois
Link: WordPress admin targeting with recipient identifier in URL fragment
4d ago
Apr 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
URL analysis
Content analysis
Self-sender with copy/paste instructions and suspicious domains (French/Français)
4d ago
Apr 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Free subdomain host
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Brand impersonation: Wells Fargo
5d ago
Apr 15th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Lookalike domain
Social engineering
Content analysis
Sender analysis
Service abuse: Meetup.com redirect with brand impersonation
5d ago
Apr 15th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Open redirect
Impersonation: Brand
Evasion
URL analysis
HTML analysis
Content analysis
Sender analysis
Advance Fee Fraud (AFF) from freemail provider or suspicious TLD
6d ago
Apr 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Spam: Website errors solicitation
6d ago
Apr 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Spam
Content analysis
Sender analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Link: Tax document lure Portuguese/Spanish with suspicious domains
6d ago
Apr 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Free file host
Free subdomain host
Social engineering
Content analysis
URL analysis
Whois
Attachment: Fake voicemail via PDF
6d ago
Apr 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
QR code
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Brand impersonation: USPS
7d ago
Apr 13th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Callback phishing via Microsoft comment
7d ago
Apr 13th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Attachment: PDF with a suspicious string and single URL
10d ago
Apr 10th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
Evasion
Content analysis
File analysis
URL analysis
Exif analysis
Attachment: PDF with credential theft language and invalid reply-to domain
10d ago
Apr 10th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
Spoofing
File analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Content analysis
Link: Shortened URL with fragment matching subject
11d ago
Apr 9th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Evasion
Social engineering
Content analysis
URL analysis
Header analysis
Cloud storage impersonation with credential theft indicators
11d ago
Apr 9th, 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
Brand impersonation: McAfee
11d ago
Apr 9th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Callback Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Attachment: Encrypted PDF with credential theft body
11d ago
Apr 9th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Encryption
Evasion
PDF
Social engineering
Content analysis
Exif analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Credential Phishing: W-2 lure with inline SVG Windows logo
12d ago
Apr 8th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
HTML smuggling
Social engineering
Content analysis
HTML analysis
Callback phishing via Apple ID display name abuse
12d ago
Apr 8th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Body: PayApp transaction reference pattern
13d ago
Apr 7th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
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