1,202 Hotmail Logins Stolen, Leaving Accounts Open to Takeover

In early January 2025, a Telegram user uploaded a stealer log exposing 1,202 records tied to Hotmail accounts, including email addresses, plaintext passwords, and the URLs of the login pages where the credentials were captured. It is a smaller batch than many logs shared through the same channels, but every one of the 1,202 records represents a real account that can be logged into right now.

This is not a breach of Microsoft's Hotmail or Outlook systems. It is a stealer log, meaning the credentials were harvested from devices already infected with malware, not stolen directly from Microsoft's servers.

Why This Stealer Log Is Dangerous

The passwords in this log were stored and shared in plaintext, with no encryption standing between a criminal and a working login. Because the file also includes the URLs where each credential was used, an attacker does not even need to guess which sites to target. They already know exactly where to try each password first.

What Was Exposed

• Email addresses (Hotmail accounts)
• Plaintext passwords
• URLs of the login pages where the credentials were captured

Why This Matters for You

A leaked Hotmail login rarely stays contained to just that one inbox. Attackers use credential stuffing to try the same email and password on banking, shopping and social media accounts, banking on the fact that most people reuse passwords. Once an attacker controls your email, they can intercept password reset links for other accounts, which leads directly to account takeover, identity theft and financial fraud.

How Stealer Logs Like This One Work

Infostealer malware usually reaches a victim's device through a cracked program, fake software download or a malicious attachment. Once running, it silently collects saved passwords, autofill entries and browser cookies, then sends them to the attacker. The stolen credentials are compiled into a log like this one and shared through Telegram channels, where anyone can download and use them.

Check If You Are Affected

HEROIC's database contains over 400 billion compromised records, so finding out if you were caught up in this leak takes only seconds. Run your email address through HEROIC's free breach scanner, and if your Hotmail account turns up, change that password and any others you have reused elsewhere immediately.