Inside the STAKE_LOGS Files: How Malware Harvested 6,162 Passwords

HEROIC analysts have been tracking a stealer log file named STAKE_LOGS, first uploaded to Telegram on August 13, 2024. The file contains 6,162 records of email addresses, plaintext passwords, and the URLs they log into, all harvested directly from infected devices. The only way to know if you're affected is to scan your email.

Why Malware Logs Are So Damaging

Unlike a password list pulled from one company's database, a stealer log comes straight off a victim's own computer or phone. That means the passwords inside are current, often still in use, and paired with the exact site each one unlocks. There is no need for an attacker to crack or guess anything before trying to log in.

What Was Exposed

• Email Addresses: confirms who the account belongs to and gives attackers a target for phishing.
• Plaintext Password: sits in the file fully readable, so it works the instant someone opens it.
• URLs: tells attackers precisely which login page each password pair was captured from.

The Real Risk Behind a Stolen Login List

Once a password is confirmed to work on one site, attackers routinely test it against banking, email, and social accounts, since so many people reuse the same password everywhere. A single working pair from this file could be enough to lock someone out of their own email, drain a connected payment method, or impersonate them to friends and coworkers.

How a File Like STAKE_LOGS Gets Made

Infostealer malware infects a device, usually through a cracked program, fake download, or malicious attachment, then quietly copies saved browser passwords, autofill data, and login URLs before sending everything back to whoever controls the malware. That stolen data is bundled into a file and sold or shared, which is how STAKE_LOGS ended up circulating on Telegram.

Could Your Device Be the Source of the STAKE_LOGS Leak?

Start by running a security scan on the device you normally log in from, since the malware that built this file may still be active. Once the device is clean, scan your email and change any exposed passwords from that clean device, not the infected one. This matters for personal email and work email alike, since both can end up in the same stealer log.