How HEROIC Found the HOTMAIL 3 Leak: 13,670 Records on Telegram

HEROIC analysts monitoring dark web Telegram channels discovered a stealer log dump labeled "HOTMAIL 3," posted on 21-May-2026. The file contained 13,670 records, including email addresses, plaintext passwords, and the URLs of the sites where those credentials were captured.

Why This Hotmail 3 Stealer Log Discovery Matters

HEROIC's team tracks Telegram channels where cybercriminals trade freshly harvested credentials, and this dump surfaced there in plaintext form, meaning no decryption or cracking is needed to use it. Each password is tied to the exact website it was captured on, so anyone who obtains this file can attempt to log directly into the accounts it lists.

What Was Exposed

• Email addresses
• Plaintext passwords
• URLs of the websites tied to each login

Why This Matters

Because the passwords are unencrypted and mapped to specific sites, this data enables immediate account takeover on any service where the credentials remain valid. If any of these passwords were reused on email, banking, or shopping accounts, attackers can also attempt credential stuffing to break into those accounts as well.

How Stealer Logs Work

Stealer log malware infects a device, often disguised as cracked software, a game cheat, or a malicious attachment, and then silently records saved passwords, autofill data, and browser session details as they are used. The results are bundled into a log file and posted to Telegram channels or dark web forums, where analysts like HEROIC's team, along with criminal buyers, can find them quickly.

Check If You Are Affected

If you use a Hotmail or Outlook address, use HEROIC's free breach scanner to check whether your details appear in this or any other leak. It searches a database of more than 400 billion breached and leaked records to tell you instantly if your information has been exposed.