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 (8):
ICS Phishing
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Extortion
Spam
Malware/Ransomware
Callback Phishing
Reconnaissance
Tactics & Techniques (25):
Social engineering
Free file host
Evasion
PDF
Impersonation: Employee
Impersonation: VIP
Impersonation: Brand
Free subdomain host
Lookalike domain
Image as content
Open redirect
Out of band pivot
Spoofing
Scripting
Macros
Free email provider
Exploit
ICS Phishing
Encryption
HTML smuggling
QR code
LNK
Service abuse
Credential Phishing
HTML injection
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Attachment: ICS voicemail lure with suspicious link
1h ago
Sep 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
ICS Phishing
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Free file host
Evasion
File analysis
Content analysis
URL analysis
Whois
Header analysis
Attachment: PDF with a suspicious string and single URL
2h ago
Sep 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
Evasion
Content analysis
File analysis
URL analysis
Exif analysis
Suspicious message with unscannable Cloudflare link
4h ago
Sep 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Content analysis
Header analysis
URL analysis
Sender analysis
Suspicious attachment with unscannable Cloudflare link
4h ago
Sep 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
PDF
Social engineering
Impersonation: Employee
Impersonation: VIP
File analysis
URL analysis
Sender analysis
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Brand impersonation: Social Security Administration
6h ago
Sep 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: ICS calendar invite with bid/RFP lure and suspicious link
22h ago
Sep 15th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
ICS Phishing
Social engineering
Free file host
Free subdomain host
Lookalike domain
File analysis
Content analysis
URL analysis
Whois
Link: Possible Intuit link abuse
22h ago
Sep 15th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
URL analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Content analysis
Header analysis
Brand impersonation: Kroger
1d ago
Sep 15th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Image as content
Sender analysis
Content analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
Header analysis
Attachment: Legal themed message or PDF with suspicious indicators
1d ago
Sep 15th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Extortion
BEC/Fraud
Evasion
PDF
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Optical Character Recognition
URL analysis
Whois
Header analysis
Exif analysis
Link: Abused Trac-link URL
2d ago
Sep 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Open redirect
Evasion
PDF
URL analysis
File analysis
Content analysis
Link: Google share.google URL shortener in google.<tld>/share.google path form
2d ago
Sep 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Spam
Credential Phishing
Open redirect
Social engineering
URL analysis
Content analysis
Attachment: ICS calendar invite with Google share.google URL shortener in google.<tld>/share.google path form
2d ago
Sep 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Spam
Credential Phishing
Open redirect
Social engineering
URL analysis
Content analysis
File analysis
Attachment: Google share.google URL shortener in google.<tld>/share.google path form
2d ago
Sep 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Spam
Credential Phishing
Open redirect
Social engineering
URL analysis
Content analysis
File analysis
Credential phishing: Generic document sharing
2d ago
Sep 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Evasion
Impersonation: Employee
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
Sender analysis
BEC/Fraud: Fake investment outreach from suspicious TLD
2d ago
Sep 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Spam: Fake photo share
5d ago
Sep 11th, 2026
Sublime Security
Spam
Evasion
Social engineering
Content analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Whois
Link: ScreenConnect remote access tool delivery with unattended guest access
5d ago
Sep 11th, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
Social engineering
Out of band pivot
URL analysis
Content analysis
Brand impersonation: Survey request with credential theft indicators
5d ago
Sep 11th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Impersonation: Brand
Spoofing
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Attachment: Excel file with hyperlinks to suspicious domains
5d ago
Sep 11th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Free file host
Free subdomain host
Social engineering
Natural Language Understanding
Content analysis
Exif analysis
File analysis
URL analysis
Link: Fake Cloudflare verification landing page
5d ago
Sep 11th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
URL analysis
HTML analysis
Header analysis
Content analysis
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