How Malware Led to 224,332 Stolen Streaming Logins

In January 2023, a combolist specifically targeting streaming service accounts appeared on Telegram under the name "228K Streaming Sites Combolist." HEROIC confirmed that this file contains 224,332 credential records—email addresses paired with plaintext passwords and the streaming platform URLs where each credential was used. The data was collected through widespread infostealer malware infections across thousands of individual devices.

Plaintext Streaming Passwords: Instant Access to Your Accounts

None of the passwords in this combolist are encrypted or hashed. They appear exactly as each user typed them, making it trivially easy for anyone with the file to log into the associated streaming accounts. Beyond unauthorized viewing, compromised streaming accounts are frequently resold on underground markets or used to access linked payment methods.

What Was Exposed

• Email Addresses – Login identifiers tied to streaming subscriptions and often reused across other platforms
• Plaintext Passwords – Fully readable credentials for streaming services and potentially other accounts
• URLs – Specific streaming platforms and login pages targeted in this collection

From Streaming Accounts to Full Identity Compromise

Streaming accounts may seem low-stakes, but they are often a gateway to far more damaging breaches. Many people use the same email and password for Netflix, Spotify, or Disney+ that they use for their bank or primary email. Attackers know this and use streaming combolists as a starting point for credential stuffing attacks against higher-value targets. With 224,332 pairs to work with, the odds of finding reused credentials are extremely high.

The Journey From Malware Infection to Telegram Combolist

Every credential in this dump originated from a real person's infected device. The chain begins when a user downloads malicious software—often disguised as a free streaming app, a browser extension, or cracked software. Infostealer malware like RedLine, Vidar, or Stealc then activates silently, extracting every saved password from the user's browsers, along with cookies, autofill data, and session tokens. These stolen credentials are sorted by target service (in this case, streaming platforms), compiled into combolists, and distributed through Telegram channels.

Check If Your Credentials Were Exposed

If you use any streaming service, your credentials could be part of this 224,332-record dump. HEROIC's breach scanner indexes over 400 billion compromised records, including credentials from stealer logs, data breaches, and dark web marketplaces. Search your email address to determine if your streaming account credentials—or any others—have been compromised.