Stolen Logins for Sale: How Combo Lists Are Built and Sold 2025

If a “login alert” hits at 2 a.m., there’s a decent chance it traces back to a combo list—huge text files of emails and passwords stitched together from old breaches and fresh leaks. These lists get passed around on forums, Telegram channels, and private groups, and they power one thing at scale: credential stuffing. Here’s the full picture, in plain English—and exactly how to stay safe.

What you’ll learn

• What a combo list is (and what it isn’t)

• Where combo lists come from and how they’re “cleaned”

• How credential stuffing works in practice

• The trading pipeline: forums → Telegram → “checker” proof

• How to protect accounts in minutes (no paid tools needed)

What is a “combo list”?

• A combo list is a big text file with lines like: email:password.

• Most entries come from past data breaches, phishing kits, malware logs, and stealer logs.

• The lists are “repacked” with fresh data and “validated” through automatic checks to find accounts that still work in 2025.

• Attackers don’t need to hack websites one by one; they reuse leaked credentials everywhere and hope users repeat passwords.

Where combo lists come from

• Old breaches: Public dumps (from past incidents) get merged and re-shared.

• Malware/stealer logs: Infostealers on infected PCs capture browser-saved passwords.

• Phishing kits: Fake login pages harvest credentials during “verification” or “security check” scams.

• Credential recycling: Attackers merge sources, remove obvious duplicates, and sort by domain (e.g., netflix.com, shop.com).

“Cleaning” and validating the list

• Normalization: same-case emails, trim spaces, remove broken formats.

• Deduplication: exact and fuzzy dedupe to shrink the file into “uniques.”

• Domain tagging: grouping by target (e.g., streaming, retail, banks).

• Live checking: automated checkers try logins against a service/login endpoint (often via residential proxies) to find “hits.”

• Output tiers:

  • Raw combos (uncleaned, cheap or free)

  • Semi-validated (some hits, mid price)

  • Fresh hits (recently checked, highest price)

How credential stuffing works (simple flow)

1. Attacker loads a combo list into a “checker” tool.

2. Tool sends login attempts to target sites (often slowly, rotating IPs).

3. Any login that succeeds is marked a “hit.”

4. Hits get saved and sold separately or used immediately (account takeover).

5. Attackers monetize by:

   • Reselling accounts (streaming, shopping, gaming)

   • Draining gift cards/credits/loyalty points

   • Ordering digital goods, reselling upgrades

   • Pivoting to more valuable services using the same email (password reuse)

Where are these sold or shared?

• Forums: Invite-only boards with “vouch” systems and escrow.

• Telegram: “Combo” and “leak” channels post fresh lists, sometimes free samples plus paid packs.

• Marketplaces: Some specialize in “checked” accounts (streaming, VPN, gaming).

• Private groups: Small rings trade “private hits” to avoid burning them publicly.

What does a listing look like?

• “10k Netflix combos, fresh hits, geo-mixed”

• “Retail logins with loyalty points, proof via checker screenshot”

• “US/EU banking logins—contact for price” (high risk, often scams/LE traps)

How attackers prove a list works

• Screenshots of checker results (green “HIT” lines).

• Short clips showing live logins (partially censored).

• Testimonials from prior buyers (“vouches”).

• Sample of 10–50 lines to test.

Why this works so often

• Password reuse across multiple sites.

• Weak or SMS-only 2FA that can be SIM-swapped or intercepted.

• Saved passwords in browsers without a master password.

• Ignored breach alerts and no monitoring.

How to protect accounts in minutes

• Use passkeys or strong unique passwords:

  • Turn on passkeys wherever possible (Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, PayPal, major social platforms).

  • If passkeys aren’t available, use a unique password per site via a password manager.

• Turn on phishing-resistant 2FA:

  • Prefer app-based codes or hardware keys over SMS. Avoid email-only 2FA.

• Lock down email first:

  • Email is the master key for resets—enable passkeys/strong 2FA on email first.

• Check exposure:

  • Search your email on a reputable breach check service and rotate passwords for any hit services.

• Kill browser-saved passwords:

  • Move credentials into a proper password manager; lock it with a strong master password.

• Separate “high-value” accounts:

  • Banking, main email, domain registrar—use different emails and strongest 2FA/hardware keys.

• Monitor logins:

  • Turn on login alerts on key services (email, bank, social). Act on unknown logins immediately.

Red flags that a login was tested

• “New sign-in” from unexpected location/device.

• Multiple failed logins followed by password reset prompts.

• Security email about unusual activity you didn’t trigger.

• Sessions appear in account security pages you don’t recognize.

What to do after a suspicious login

• Change password immediately and sign out all sessions.

• Turn on passkeys/2FA; if 2FA existed, rotate recovery codes.

• Review account recovery options (phone/email) and remove old devices.

• Check linked services (same email) and update them too.

• If payment is linked, review transactions and alert support.

Copy‑friendly checklist (paste this)

• Enable passkeys or unique passwords (password manager)

• Turn on authenticator/hardware key 2FA (avoid SMS if possible)

• Secure email first (passkeys + alerts)

• Check if your email appears in recent breaches

• Rotate passwords on any exposed service

• Remove browser-saved passwords; use a manager

• Separate high-value accounts with different emails

• Turn on login notifications and review devices monthly

Human Q&A (FAQs)

Q1: Are combo lists illegal to download “just to check”?
A: Distributing or using stolen credentials is illegal and unethical. Always use official breach check tools that don’t expose others’ data.

Q2: Does a VPN stop credential stuffing?
A: A VPN protects network privacy, not account security. Unique passwords + strong 2FA/passkeys are what stop account takeover.

Q3: If my email is in a breach, is my account already hacked?
A: Not necessarily. But assume the password is known—change it immediately and enable 2FA/passkeys.

Q4: Are SMS codes safe?
A: Better than nothing, but weaker than authenticator apps or hardware keys. SIM swap and phishing can bypass SMS.

Q5: Should I delete my accounts?
A: Deleting rarely helps if the email/password is reused elsewhere. Focus on unique passwords, 2FA, and monitoring.

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