HEROIC Researchers Trace 225 Leaked Hotmail Logins to Telegram

HEROIC researchers traced this combolist to a Telegram upload from late May 2026, labeled Hotmail Fresh B4_Jx. The batch is small, just 225 records, but each one pairs a Hotmail email address with a plaintext password and the URL it was used on. This is a separate, smaller upload from a similarly named file HEROIC also tracked, which is common with uploaders who release credentials in multiple small batches under the same label. Why This Leak Is Dangerous: Because the passwords sit in plain, readable text, anyone who gets this file can try logging into the affected Hotmail inboxes right away, with no cracking needed. The fresh label suggests these credentials were recently obtained, which raises the odds that the passwords still work since the account owners have not had a chance to notice and change them. What Was Exposed: - Hotmail email addresses - Plaintext passwords - URLs tied to each set of credentials Why This Matters: An email inbox is often the key to resetting passwords on banking, shopping, and social media accounts. If your address is one of these 225 records, an attacker could use access to your inbox to take over other accounts too, and if you reused the same password elsewhere, credential stuffing attacks can spread the damage further. How Small Batch Combolists Like This Circulate: Researchers who track Telegram channels regularly see uploaders release small, labeled batches like this one rather than one large file, often to test demand or build a reputation before selling bigger collections. The credentials themselves typically originate from phishing pages, malware-infected devices, or recycled older breaches, then get repackaged and dated as fresh. Check If You Are Affected: HEROIC's free breach scanner checks your email against more than 400 billion leaked records, including small combolists like this 225-record file. Run a free scan to see if your Hotmail address or any other account shows up in HEROIC's database.