How a Telegram Combolist Led to 52 Verified Hotmail Logins Leaking

HEROIC analysts identified a file named 52 Hotmail valid uploaded to a Telegram channel on July 20, 2026. The file contains exactly 52 records of Hotmail email addresses, plaintext passwords, and the login URLs they connect to, each one labeled as verified working by whoever compiled it. Why This Is Dangerous: The word 'valid' in the file name means these logins were tested before being shared. Unlike an old, stale dump full of dead accounts, a verified list like this is far more likely to still work, making it immediately usable by anyone who downloads it. What Was Exposed: - Email addresses - Plaintext passwords - Associated login URLs Why This Matters: A small, verified list is often more dangerous than a large, unverified one, because every record inside is confirmed active. If your Hotmail password shows up here and you use it anywhere else, attackers can use it for credential stuffing to break into your email, banking, or shopping accounts, leading to account takeover, financial fraud, or identity theft. How Combolist Leaks Work: This kind of file typically starts with a larger batch of stolen or leaked Hotmail credentials, gathered from older breaches or malware infections. Whoever compiles the list then runs each login through a checker tool to confirm which ones still work, keeps only the valid ones, and shares or sells the trimmed-down result on Telegram, exactly what appears to have happened with this 52-record file. Check If You Are Affected: Because these logins were confirmed working, it is worth checking your email now. HEROIC's free breach scanner checks your email against more than 400 billion leaked records, so you can find out quickly whether your Hotmail account was part of this leak.