Researchers Link 4K Hotmail Valids Leak to 3,656 Logins

HEROIC researchers linked a combolist branded "4K HOTMAIL VALIDS ared19" to a Telegram upload dated December 13, 2024, after confirming 3,656 records of email addresses and plaintext passwords tied to Hotmail accounts inside the file. Although the name suggests roughly 4,000 entries, the verified count is 3,656 working credential pairs.

Why This Is Dangerous

The label "VALIDS" is significant, it means the uploader claims to have already tested these credentials and confirmed they work. Combined with the fact that every password was stored in plaintext, this file gives an attacker a pre-verified list of live Hotmail logins ready to use immediately, with no cracking or trial and error required.

What Was Exposed

• Email addresses
• Plaintext passwords
• Associated URLs

Why This Matters

A pre-validated list of 3,656 working credentials is especially dangerous because attackers do not need to waste time testing which logins succeed, they already know. If anyone in this batch reused their Hotmail password on another account, an attacker can move quickly from one confirmed login into banking sites, shopping accounts, or social media, leading to account takeover, identity theft, and financial fraud.

How Combolists Work

A combolist is a plain text file pairing email addresses or usernames with passwords, usually assembled from older breaches, phishing pages, or malware infections and then repackaged for distribution on Telegram. Files labeled "VALIDS" have typically been checked by the uploader before release, making them more valuable, and more dangerous, than unverified batches of scraped credentials.

Check If You Are Affected

If you use Hotmail, Outlook, or a similar email service, it is worth checking whether your credentials appear in this verified leak or any other. HEROIC's free breach scanner searches more than 400 billion leaked records, so you can find out quickly and change any passwords you have reused elsewhere.