Our Analysts Found the HOTMAIL _1 Combolist: 1,029 Accounts Exposed

HEROIC Analysts Discover the HOTMAIL _1 Combolist on Telegram

HEROIC analysts identified a combolist named "HOTMAIL _1" uploaded to Telegram on November 5, 2024. Though smaller than many dumps we track, the file still contains 1,029 records pairing email addresses with plaintext passwords and the URLs those credentials were tied to.

Why This Is Dangerous

Even a small combolist like this one can cause real harm because the passwords are stored in plaintext, meaning anyone who opens the file can read and use them immediately. Paired with matching email addresses and URLs, an attacker has everything needed to log into the accounts directly, no technical skill required.

What Was Exposed

• Email addresses
• Plaintext passwords
• Associated URLs

Why This Matters

Size doesn't determine risk. Even 1,029 leaked credentials are enough to fuel targeted credential stuffing attacks, where criminals test the same email and password combination across banking, email, and shopping sites. Because so many people reuse passwords, one exposed Hotmail login can quickly turn into a full account takeover and, eventually, identity theft or financial fraud.

How a Combolist Like This Gets Made

Combolists are typically compiled from older breaches, phishing pages, or malware infected devices, then packaged into a single file and shared or sold on Telegram channels. Even smaller lists like HOTMAIL _1 are valuable to criminals because they can be combined with other combolists and tested automatically using bots that check thousands of login attempts per minute.

Check If You Are Affected

If you use a Hotmail address, it is worth checking whether it appears in this leak or elsewhere. HEROIC's free breach scanner checks your email against a database of more than 400 billion leaked records, so you can confirm your exposure in seconds and change any reused passwords right away.