diff --git a/bincapz.go b/bincapz.go
index e8b53e7d7..43b87af92 100644
--- a/bincapz.go
+++ b/bincapz.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"io/fs"
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
@@ -174,13 +175,6 @@ func main() {
 				}
 			}
 
-			renderer, err = render.New(formatFlag, outFile)
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Error("invalid format", slog.Any("error", err), slog.String("format", formatFlag))
-				returnCode = ExitInvalidArgument
-				return err
-			}
-
 			rfs := []fs.FS{rules.FS}
 			if thirdPartyFlag {
 				rfs = append(rfs, thirdparty.FS)
@@ -200,6 +194,21 @@ func main() {
 				scanPaths = args[2:]
 			}
 
+			chosenFormat := formatFlag
+			if chosenFormat == "auto" {
+				chosenFormat = "terminal"
+				if slices.Contains(args, "scan") {
+					chosenFormat = "terminal_brief"
+				}
+			}
+
+			renderer, err = render.New(chosenFormat, outFile)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Error("invalid format", slog.Any("error", err), slog.String("format", formatFlag))
+				returnCode = ExitInvalidArgument
+				return err
+			}
+
 			bc = bincapz.Config{
 				Concurrency:           concurrencyFlag,
 				ErrFirstHit:           errFirstHitFlag,
@@ -241,7 +250,7 @@ func main() {
 			},
 			&cli.StringFlag{
 				Name:        "format",
-				Value:       "terminal",
+				Value:       "auto",
 				Usage:       "Output format (json, markdown, simple, terminal, yaml)",
 				Destination: &formatFlag,
 			},
@@ -433,6 +442,10 @@ func main() {
 						return err
 					}
 
+					if res.Files.Len() > 0 {
+						fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "\n\ntip: For detailed analysis, run: bincapz analyze <path>\n")
+					}
+
 					return nil
 				},
 			},
diff --git a/pkg/render/render.go b/pkg/render/render.go
index 53dcff1e1..f9a92d450 100644
--- a/pkg/render/render.go
+++ b/pkg/render/render.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ func New(kind string, w io.Writer) (bincapz.Renderer, error) {
 	switch kind {
 	case "", "auto", "terminal":
 		return NewTerminal(w), nil
+	case "terminal_brief":
+		return NewTerminalBrief(w), nil
 	case "markdown":
 		return NewMarkdown(w), nil
 	case "yaml":
diff --git a/pkg/render/terminal_brief.go b/pkg/render/terminal_brief.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..72966cbee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/render/terminal_brief.go
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+// Copyright 2024 Chainguard, Inc.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//
+// Terminal Brief renderer
+//
+// Example:
+//
+// [CRITICAL] /bin/ls: frobber (whatever), xavier (whatever)
+// [HIGH    ] /bin/zxa:
+// [MED     ] /bin/ar:
+
+package render
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/chainguard-dev/bincapz/pkg/bincapz"
+	"github.com/fatih/color"
+)
+
+type TerminalBrief struct {
+	w io.Writer
+}
+
+func NewTerminalBrief(w io.Writer) TerminalBrief {
+	return TerminalBrief{w: w}
+}
+
+func briefRiskColor(level string) string {
+	switch level {
+	case "LOW":
+		return color.HiGreenString("LOW ")
+	case "MEDIUM", "MED":
+		return color.HiYellowString("MED ")
+	case "HIGH":
+		return color.HiRedString("HIGH")
+	case "CRITICAL", "CRIT":
+		return color.HiMagentaString("CRIT")
+	default:
+		return color.WhiteString(level)
+	}
+}
+
+func (r TerminalBrief) File(_ context.Context, fr *bincapz.FileReport) error {
+	if len(fr.Behaviors) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	reasons := []string{}
+	for _, b := range fr.Behaviors {
+		reasons = append(reasons, fmt.Sprintf("%s %s%s%s", color.HiYellowString(b.ID), color.HiBlackString("("), b.Description, color.HiBlackString(")")))
+	}
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(r.w, "%s%s%s %s: %s", color.HiBlackString("["), briefRiskColor(fr.RiskLevel), color.HiBlackString("]"), color.HiGreenString(fr.Path),
+		strings.Join(reasons, color.HiBlackString(", ")))
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (r TerminalBrief) Full(_ context.Context, rep *bincapz.Report) error {
+	// Non-diff files are handled on the fly by File()
+	if rep.Diff == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Errorf("diffs are unsupported by the TerminalBrief renderer")
+}