5,171 CRYPTON LOGS 2.0 passwords exposed in November 2023 stealer

HEROIC analysts located the CRYPTON_LOGS 2.0 226pcs stealer log while conducting routine threat intelligence monitoring of Telegram channels in November 2023. The file was uploaded by an anonymous Telegram user on November 6th, 2023, and contained 5,171 records extracted from compromised endpoint machines. Each record consisted of an email address, a plaintext password, and one or more URLs tied to the services or API hosts where those credentials were in use. The dataset is attributed to the United States, suggesting the bulk of the compromised devices and accounts belong to US-based users. The "226pcs" label in the file name indicates this batch came from approximately 226 seperate infected machines. HEROIC's research team confirmed the dataset against its breach index.

Why This Is Dangerous

Every record in this file is immediately actionable. The combination of a plaintext password, the email address it belongs to, and the URL of the service it was captured from tells an attacker exactly where to log in and what to use. There is no cracking required. No delay. Anyone who downloads this Telegram post can begin attempting unauthorized logins within seconds. For US-based users in particular, this creates direct risk to accounts tied to American financial institutions, healthcare portals, government services, and major online retailers. Password reuse compounds the risk further. A single credential exposed here can cascade into unauthorized access across every platform where that same password was ever used.

What Was Exposed

• Email addresses
• Plaintext passwords
• URLs (web services and API host endpoints)

Why This Matters

Credential stuffing attacks using stealer log data are automated and fast. Attackers feed these email and password pairs into tools that simultaneously test them across banking apps, email providers, e-commerce platforms, and social networks. Every successful match results in an account takeover. From there, financial fraud is common as attackers exploit stored payment methods or initiate wire transfers. Identity theft follows when enough personal data is harvested from inside the compromised accounts. For corporate employees whose work email or systems credentials appear in this log, the risk extends to their employer's network. Organisations have been breached through a single employee credential found in a stealer log just like this one. The data was freely distributed on Telegram, meaning it has likely been dowloaded by multiple threat actors and is being actively used.

How Stealer Logs Work

A stealer log is created when infostealer malware infects a computer and extracts all stored credentials. The infection typically begins with a phishing email, a fake software download, or a malicious browser extension. Once the malware is running, it quietly collects every password saved in the browser, autofill entries, session cookies, and credentials typed by the user in real time. This data is then automatically sent to the attacker's server. The CRYPTON_LOGS 2.0 operation appears to be a recurring collection distributed in numbered batches, with the 226pcs designation marking this as a bundle of logs from 226 infected devices. These batches are uploaded to Telegram channels where subscribers can freely download the credentials and use them for account takeover or sell them to other criminals. The entire proccess from infection to public distribution can occure within a matter of days.

Check If You Are Affected

HEROIC has indexed this breach in its database of over 400 billion records, making it searchable through HEROIC's free breach scanner. If you are a US-based user and use any of the services referenced in this log, you should search your email address immediately to confirm whether your credentials were included. If your data is found, change your passwords right away, do not reuse the same password on multiple accounts, and enable two-factor authentication on your email, banking, and any other high-value services. Acting quickly reduces the window of opportunity for attackers who already have access to this file.