What are the best anti-phishing tools for SOC analysts to use in 2025?

Phishing remains one of the biggest threats to business email and cloud accounts. As a Security Operations Center (SOC) analyst, you need quick‑response tools that identify, block, and investigate phishing attempts before users click anything harmful. Below is a friendly guide to twelve popular anti‑phishing tools—what they do, why they matter, and how you can use them together for stronger defense.

Why SOC Teams Need Dedicated Anti‑Phishing Tools

• Email is still the #1 attack vector.

• Automated detection cuts investigation time from hours to minutes.

  
  

• Threat‑sharing keeps your defenses synced with the latest campaigns.

• User simulation and awareness training reduce real‑world clicks.

Quick‑Look Table – Tools vs. Primary Use

Tool‑by‑Tool Breakdown

ThePhish

ThePhish uses machine learning to inspect links, attachments, and sender behavior in real time. Great for daily triage: forward a suspicious email to ThePhish and get a verdict in seconds.

PhishTank

Run by Cisco Talos, PhishTank offers a crowd‑sourced list of confirmed phishing URLs. Analysts can search, submit, and automate lookups via API—ideal for blocking known campaigns.

GoPhish

GoPhish is an open‑source framework for simulating phishing emails. Launch realistic campaigns inside your own network to measure user click rates and provide on‑the‑spot training.

OpenPhish

OpenPhish provides curated threat‑intel feeds of active phishing domains and IPs. Many secure email gateways import this list to pre‑emptively block malicious messages.

Apache SpamAssassin

A classic open‑source email filter that scores messages using rules, DNSBLs, and Bayesian analysis. Still powerful when tuned and combined with up‑to‑date phishing signatures.

MISP (Malware Information Sharing Platform)

MISP lets SOC teams share indicators of compromise (IOCs) with partners and trust groups. Supports STIX/TAXII for automated ingestion and enrichment—key for rapid phishing takedown.

PhishStats

A community‑maintained database indexing fresh phishing sites. Quick URL lookup helps analysts decide if a domain is already flagged before deeper analysis.

Checkphish.ai

Paste or query a URL and Checkphish.ai spins up a headless browser, grabs a screenshot, and applies AI to detect look‑alike login pages—handy for visual confirmation.

URLscan.io

URLscan.io provides a full DOM snapshot, redirects, and screenshots of any URL, letting analysts see exactly what users would see (without risk).

PhishTool

An end‑to‑end email investigation platform: parses headers, attachments, and URLs into a single pane so analysts can decide “phish or legit” fast.

MailCleaner Community Edition

Acts as a gateway spam filter in front of mail servers. It combines anti‑virus, anti‑spam, and phishing heuristics—ideal for SMBs or labs.

OLEtools

Open‑source Python scripts that extract macros, links, and metadata from Office documents. Crucial for spotting hidden phishing payloads in Word or Excel attachments.

Practical Workflow for SOC Analysts

1. Inbound filtering – MailCleaner + SpamAssassin reduce noise.

2. URL reputation – OpenPhish / PhishTank feed blocks known bad domains.

3. Attachment & link scan – ThePhish or Checkphish.ai for unknown items.

4. Manual triage – PhishTool consolidates email evidence.

5. IOC sharing – Push confirmed indicators to MISP, protect peers.

6. User training – Run GoPhish campaigns and track improvement.

7. Deep forensic – Use URLscan.io and OLEtools for stubborn cases.

Conclusion

Combining multiple tools—from community feeds to AI screenshot analyzers—gives SOC teams layered protection. No single product stops every phish, but together these solutions:

• Cut investigation time

• Block repeat offenders automatically

• Strengthen user awareness

Stay current, share intel, and keep testing. That’s the best defense against today’s ever‑evolving phishing threats.

FAQ 

What is the best anti-phishing tool for SOC analysts?

Tools like ThePhish, GoPhish, PhishTank, MISP, and Checkphish.ai are among the most effective tools used by SOC analysts in 2025 for phishing detection and response.

What does GoPhish do?

GoPhish is a phishing simulation framework that helps organizations test their employees by sending mock phishing emails to check security awareness levels.

Is PhishTank free to use?

Yes, PhishTank is a free, community-supported phishing URL database that helps security analysts verify and report phishing links.

How does Checkphish.ai detect phishing?

Checkphish.ai uses AI-based analysis to inspect suspicious links and screenshots, detecting phishing behavior in real time.

What is ThePhish used for?

ThePhish analyzes suspicious emails, links, and attachments using machine learning to detect phishing and malicious content.

Can MISP be used for phishing threats?

Yes, MISP (Malware Information Sharing Platform) allows threat intelligence sharing, including phishing Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), across SOC teams.

How does URLscan.io help in phishing investigations?

URLscan.io provides detailed reports, screenshots, and redirects for any submitted URL, helping analysts understand what a phishing victim would see.

What is PhishTool and why is it important?

PhishTool helps SOC analysts investigate phishing emails by extracting header info, URLs, attachments, and giving visual indicators of threat levels.

Is Apache SpamAssassin effective against phishing?

Yes, SpamAssassin filters phishing and spam by applying multiple rule-based checks including IP blacklists, header analysis, and heuristic scoring.

What is OpenPhish?

OpenPhish is a threat intelligence service offering a regularly updated feed of phishing URLs detected across the internet.

What is PhishStats used for?

PhishStats provides real-time tracking and statistics of phishing URLs, including their origin, target brand, and hosting platform.

Can I analyze Office documents for phishing?

Yes, tools like OLEtools can extract embedded macros, URLs, and hidden scripts in Microsoft Office documents, detecting phishing payloads.

Is MailCleaner suitable for phishing protection?

Yes, MailCleaner acts as a secure email gateway that filters out spam, malware, and phishing emails before they reach the end-user inbox.

Are these tools suitable for beginners?

Yes, platforms like GoPhish, URLscan.io, and PhishTool are user-friendly and well-documented, making them ideal for beginners in SOC roles.

Can these tools be used together?

Absolutely. Using a combination of these tools builds a layered defense strategy, improving detection, investigation, and response to phishing threats.

What are IOCs in phishing analysis?

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) include IP addresses, domains, URLs, email subjects, file hashes, and more that help identify phishing activity.

How does phishing simulation help employees?

Phishing simulations test how well employees can detect fake emails, improving security awareness and reducing the success rate of real phishing attempts.

How often should phishing simulations be run?

Phishing simulations should be conducted monthly or quarterly, depending on your organization’s risk level and exposure.

Can these tools be integrated into a SIEM?

Yes, many tools such as PhishTool, OpenPhish, and MISP support API integration for automatic alerting and IOC sharing with SIEM platforms.

What’s the difference between phishing and spam?

Phishing is a targeted attack aiming to steal credentials or data, while spam is usually unsolicited bulk emails promoting products or services.

Are these tools open-source?

Yes, several tools like GoPhish, MISP, SpamAssassin, and OLEtools are open-source and actively maintained by the community.

Is QR code phishing detectable using these tools?

Yes, tools like URLscan.io and Checkphish.ai can analyze QR code payloads and detect malicious redirection hidden within them.

How do I block phishing links automatically?

You can use feeds from OpenPhish, PhishTank, or MISP and configure your firewalls or email gateways to auto-block malicious links.

What does OLEtools detect?

OLEtools detects dangerous elements like macros, embedded scripts, suspicious URLs, and auto-execution commands in Office files.

Which tool helps analyze email headers?

PhishTool and ThePhish specialize in email header analysis, revealing anomalies in sender details and paths that indicate phishing.

How do SOC teams respond to phishing quickly?

SOC teams use triage tools, automation, IOC feeds, and playbooks to reduce the response time from detection to containment.

What is phishing triage?

Phishing triage is the process of rapidly analyzing incoming emails to classify them as safe, spam, or phishing, enabling swift response.

Can AI help detect phishing?

Yes, modern platforms like ThePhish and Checkphish.ai use machine learning models to detect phishing with high accuracy.

What are some signs of a phishing URL?

Phishing URLs often include typos, use lookalike domains, ask for login credentials, or mimic trusted services in a deceptive way.

Can phishing tools reduce alert fatigue?

Yes, these tools reduce false positives and prioritize genuine threats, helping analysts focus on real risks and prevent alert fatigue.