The 4900 Hotmail Leak Exposed 4,715 Passwords to Identity Thieves

HEROIC analysts identified a combolist named "4900 HOTMAIL" that a Telegram user uploaded on 29-Nov-2024. The file contains 4,715 records of email and username and password credentials, tied largely to Hotmail accounts in the United States.

Why the 4900 Hotmail Leak Is Dangerous

The value of a combolist comes from how ready it is to use. Every entry already pairs a working email address with a plaintext password, so an attacker does not need to crack anything or guess at a format. They can plug the whole file straight into automated tools and start testing the credentials against other websites within minutes.

What Was Exposed

• Email Addresses
• Plaintext Passwords
• URLs

Why This Matters

Most people reuse passwords across more than one account, and that habit is exactly what makes leaks like this one dangerous. If your Hotmail password shows up here and you have used it elsewhere, an attacker can attempt credential stuffing against your banking, shopping, or social media accounts. Because email accounts are often used to reset passwords everywhere else, a compromised Hotmail login can quickly cascade into full identity theft.

How a Combolist Leak Happens

Combolists are compiled from older breaches, phishing campaigns, and malware infections, then merged into a single file of email and password pairs. Once someone uploads a combolist to a Telegram channel like this one was, it spreads quickly among people looking for working credentials to test against popular websites, often within hours of being posted.

Check If You Are Affected

You do not need to wait and wonder if your credentials are part of this leak. HEROIC's free breach scanner checks your email address against a database of more than 400 billion leaked records, so you can quickly find out if you are affected and update any passwords that need it.