The WATERCLOUDz Stealer Log: 6,299 U.S. Accounts Exposed in September 2023

HEROIC analysts identified a stealer log dataset circulating on Telegram in September 2023, catalogued under the name WATERCLOUDz - 358 FILES 9.8.2023 SEPTEMBER BIG CLUB. The file contained 6,299 records harvested from infected devices, including email addresses, plaintext passwords, and URLs pointing to services the victims had logged into. The data was uploaded by an anonymous Telegram user and quickly made its way into underground sharing channels.

Why This Is Dangerous

What makes this leak especially concerning is that the passwords are stored in plaintext. That means anyone who downloads the file can immediately read and use every single password without any cracking tools or technical skill. Combined with the email addresses and URLs, attackers have everything they need to walk straight into accounts.

With a list like this, a criminal can try each email and password pair across dozens of popular websites in minutes. Banking portals, email inboxes, shopping accounts, and cloud storage are all fair targets. The URLs in the dataset even tell attackers exactly which services the victims were using, making targeted attacks far more efficent than a standard guessing campaign.

What Was Exposed

• Email Addresses
• Plaintext Passwords
• URLs (indicating which services victims accessed)

Why This Matters to Real People

Even if you have never heard of WATERCLOUDz, your credentials could be in this file. Stealer logs collect data from real devices, real browsers, and real people going about their daily lives. The risks include:

• Credential stuffing: Attackers use automated tools to test your email and password combination across hundreds of websites at once.
• Account takeover: Once inside your email, attackers can reset passwords for every other account you own.
• Identity theft: Access to your inbox or financial accounts can lead to loans, credit cards, or purchases made in your name.
• Financial fraud: Direct access to banking or payment accounts puts your money at immediate risk.

How Stealer Logs Work

A stealer log is the output of a type of malware called an infostealer. This software is typically installed on a victim's computer without their knowledge, often through a malicious email attachment, a fake software download, or a compromised website. Once installed, it runs silently in the background and harvests saved passwords from browsers like Chrome or Firefox, session cookies, autofill data, and URLs from your browsing history.

The collected data is then bundled into log files and sent back to the attacker. These logs are often sold or shared in bulk on Telegram channels and dark web forums, where they are downloaded and exploited by other criminals. The victim rarely knows their data was stolen until they notice an unauthorized login or recieve a fraud alert from their bank.

Check If You Are Affected

If your email address was active in 2023, there is a real chance it has appeard in one or more stealer log datasets. HEROIC's free breach scanner checks your email against a database of over 400 billion exposed records, including stealer logs just like this one.

It takes less than a minute and you do not need to create an account. Run a free scan now to find out definitaly whether your credentials have been compromised, and get clear steps on what to do next.