By RecOsint | Dec 6, 2025
The "Infostealer" Explosion. In 2025, data breaches didn't just increase; they changed. Hackers stopped trying to guess passwords. Instead, they deployed Infostealer Malware (like RedLine or Lumma) that silently sucks every saved password from your browser and sends it to a cloud server.
Hackers don't sell passwords one by one. They sell "Logs". A single Log contains: – All Passwords saved in Chrome. – Cookies (to bypass 2FA). – Browser History & System Info. These are sold in bulk on Telegram channels for as little as $5.
Monitoring Paste Sites Hackers often brag or share "free samples" on public text storage sites like Pastebin, Gists, or Ghostbin. – OSINT Action: Analysts use automated scrapers to monitor these sites 24/7 for keywords like @gmail.com + password to catch leaks the moment they go public.
In 2026, the Dark Web moved to Telegram. There are thousands of "Cloud Log" channels where bots post stolen data every second. – Tracking: OSINT tools monitor these channels to find corporate emails. If a company employee's email appears in a log, it’s a "Red Alert."
Why They Want Them? Hackers use these lists for Credential Stuffing. – Logic: Most people use the same password for Netflix and their Bank. – Attack: Bots take the stolen Netflix password and try it on 50 different banking sites automatically. If it works, they drain the account.
Analysts don't just use Google. They use specialized OSINT Search Engines: 1. DeHashed: Allows searching databases by username, email, or even phone number. 2. IntelligenceX (IntelX): Archives the dark web and paste sites, letting you search deleted data.
Identity Threat Detection Companies now use "Dark Web Monitoring" services. – How it works: If an employee's password hits the dark web at 2:00 PM, the security system forces a Password Reset at 2:01 PM. – Speed: Speed is the only defense against Stuffing.
The root cause is saving passwords in the browser. – Rule: Stop clicking "Save Password" in Chrome/Edge. Infostealers can decrypt them easily. – Solution: Use a dedicated Password Manager (like 1Password or Bitwarden) which is encrypted separately.