How to Automate Phishing Detection to Prevent Data Theft

Phishing is no longer about badly written emails asking you to “click here.” Today’s attacks are business-grade, powered by AI and packaged in ready-to-use phishing kits. That means cybercriminals can now launch believable spearphishing campaigns in hours.

For companies, this raises the stakes. A single successful phishing email can expose confidential data, disrupt operations, and damage reputation. The question for managers is no longer whether phishing will target your organization, but how fast your team can detect and stop it.

****Why Modern Phishing is Harder to Catch****

Attackers have leveled up, and traditional filters struggle to keep up.

• AI-driven precision: Attackers now generate flawless, personalized messages with no spelling or grammar mistakes, making them harder to spot by humans and machines.
• Phishkits for everyone: These pre-built toolkits allow even inexperienced criminals to create convincing campaigns quickly.
• Advanced evasion: Links hidden in QR codes, fake CAPTCHAs, and multi-step redirect chains slip past email filters and secure gateways.

Even well-equipped SOC teams find it challenging to separate real threats from the noise. And delays in detection create costly risks: longer investigation times, higher chances of compromise, and increased business impact.

****The Solution to Stopping Modern Phishing****

The most effective way companies are preventing data theft today is through interactive analysis. Unlike traditional tools that only scan for known indicators, interactive analysis simulates the entire attack journey as if a real user were engaging with the email or file.

This means hidden tricks, whether they involve layered redirects, fake login pages, or other evasive steps, are exposed in full. Security teams gain clear visibility into the entire execution chain, from the initial lure to the final payload.

Spearphishing attack caught inside ANY.RUN sandbox

That’s why more and more organizations are turning to interactive sandboxes like ANY.RUN. They provide teams with the insight needed to understand exactly how an attack unfolds, making it possible to block threats before they lead to data loss.

Visibility is powerful, but what makes the difference for modern teams is automation. This is where sandboxes like ANY.RUN excel, turning interactive analysis into a fully automated process that integrates seamlessly with existing SOC stacks.

Let’s look at how this works in practice with a real-world phishing attempt aimed at Hitachi Energy employees.

Real Case: A Multi-Stage Phishing Attack Against Hitachi

The attack began with what looked like a normal HR email from “Hitachi Energy”, asking employees to review a new company policy. Polished design, urgent tone, even a security reminder; everything about it was convincing enough to slip past traditional filters and catch employees off guard.

With the help of automation, ANY.RUN was able to fully unravel this attack in a safe environment.

Fast verdict of malicious behaviour with relevant tags exposed inside ANY.RUN sandbox

Malicious PDF Detected

The attachment appeared harmless but contained a QR code instead of a clickable link; a tactic specifically designed to evade email security systems. ANY.RUN’s sandbox automatically flagged the suspicious behavior.

QR code with a hidden malicious URL detected by ANY.RUN

This early detection helps prevent employees from unknowingly scanning QR codes that lead to hidden threats.

Hidden Link Extraction

Once automated interactivity was enabled, the sandbox scanned the QR code, extracted the hidden URL, and opened it inside a browser, continuing the attack chain without analyst involvement.

Bypassing CAPTCHA

The attackers added another layer of defense: a Cloudflare CAPTCHA, meant to stop automated tools. ANY.RUN solved it automatically, just like a human would, and continued the investigation.

CAPTCHA verified automatically, saving time and effort

As a result, security teams don’t get stuck at roadblocks, saving hours of manual testing and guaranteeing deeper visibility.

Credential Harvesting Page Exposed

The final stop was a fake Microsoft login page, designed to steal employee credentials. A well-crafted replica that many people would likely trust. By exposing the fake login page safely, the sandbox provided teams with a clear malicious verdict before any real credentials could be compromised.

Fake Microsoft page designed to steal credentials

IOC Collection and Reporting

Along the way, ANY.RUN gathered all IOCs (indicators of compromise), mapped the attacker’s processes, and generated a detailed report ready for sharing across the SOC.

Well-structured report for sharing between team members

These IOCs can be fed directly into SIEM/SOAR systems to strengthen detection rules, train employees, and build a strategy that prevents similar data theft attempts in the future.

****How Automation Strengthens Phishing Response****

Modern phishing campaigns aren’t just technical challenges but also operational ones. Attacks like the Hitachi case are designed to drain time, mislead staff, and slip through traditional defenses. Automation changes the equation, giving organizations the ability to handle phishing with speed and confidence.

• Faster, Reliable Decisions: Move from a suspicious email to a clear, evidence-backed verdict in minutes. Faster decisions mean less downtime, lower risk of data theft, and reduced financial exposure.
• Reduced Operational Costs: With automation handling phishing detection end-to-end, fewer staff hours are wasted on repetitive checks. Your team can cover more ground without increasing headcount.
• Optimized Talent Use: Junior staff can confidently handle phishing triage with automated support, while senior analysts dedicate their time to higher-value activities like threat hunting and strategy.
• Lower Business Risk: By exposing full attack chains, including hidden redirects and fake login pages, managers get assurance that threats are caught before credentials or sensitive data are stolen.
• Proven Efficiency Gains: Organizations using ANY.RUN have reported up to 3x faster phishing detection and response times, translating to fewer escalations, stronger compliance, and lower incident costs.

****Expose Phishing Tricks Before Data is Stolen****

Phishing attacks are becoming harder to spot, but with ANY.RUN, organizations don’t have to rely on guesswork or slow manual checks. By automating interactive analysis, the sandbox reveals every hidden step, so teams can act before data is compromised.

With clear reports, ready-to-use IOCs, and seamless SOC integration, ANY.RUN helps businesses cut investigation time, reduce analyst workload, and strengthen defenses where it matters most.