Hotmail Combo 5: Exactly 1,287 Credentials Leaked on Telegram

In June 2026, HEROIC analysts logged a file shared on Telegram titled "Hotmail Combo 5," containing exactly 1,287 records of Hotmail account credentials. The dataset included email addresses, plaintext passwords, and the URLs of the login pages those credentials were tied to, the standard structure of a stealer log-derived combo file rather than a breach of Microsoft's own infrastructure.

Why This Is Dangerous

What makes a combo file like this practical for an attacker is how little work is left to do. Each of the 1,287 records already pairs an email address with its plaintext password and the exact web address it was used on, so there is no decryption, no cracking, and no guessing involved. Anyone who downloads the file can attempt to log into a real Hotmail account within seconds of opening it.

What Was Exposed

• Email addresses
• Plaintext passwords
• URLs of the associated login pages

Why This Matters

A compromised Hotmail or Outlook account can expose far more than an inbox, since email is typically the account used to reset passwords for banking, retail, and social media logins. If any of the 1,287 credentials in this file are still active, the account owner faces a real risk of account takeover. Password reuse compounds that risk, since attackers routinely test stolen email and password pairs against other popular sites through credential stuffing, hoping the same login works twice.

How Stealer Logs and Combo Lists Work

Combo lists like "Hotmail Combo 5" are generally assembled from stealer logs, the output of malware that infects a victim's device and silently exports saved browser passwords, autofill data, and open login sessions. Once collected, criminals sort that raw information into provider-specific lists, in this case bundling Hotmail logins together, before circulating or selling the file through Telegram channels and dark web marketplaces. Because the data comes straight from the victim's own browser, it tends to be accurate at the time it was captured, which is exactly why it holds value to whoever buys it.

Check If You Are Affected

If you use a Hotmail or Outlook account, it is worth checking whether your credentials show up in this file or any other leak. HEROIC's free breach scanner checks your email address against a database of more than 400 billion leaked records, including combo lists and stealer logs like this one, so you can find out your exposure and change any at-risk passwords right away.