Stealer Logs on the Dark Web: What You Need to Know
In recent years, a surge in stealer logs has emerged, making it easier than ever for anyone, even those with minimal technical expertise, to become a cybercriminal. These logs, often readily available on dark web marketplaces, Telegram channels, and even underground forums, contain stolen credentials for virtually any online service imaginable.
The consequences of this readily available arsenal are severe. Earlier this year, Snowflake experienced a data breach, which was executed by leveraging stealer logs available on the dark web. This incident, like countless others, highlights the significant vulnerability corporations face due to the proliferation of stealer logs.
With the barrier to entry for cybercrime effectively lowered, organizations and individuals alike must remain vigilant. This is why we’ve decided to take a closer look at stealer logs on the deep and dark web.
What are stealer logs?
Stealer logs are a serious threat to individuals and organizations alike. These logs, compiled by Infostealers like Redline and LummaC2, contain sensitive data stolen from compromised devices. This data can include browser history, cookies, visited websites, installed software, and even user information.
Stealer Logs present a significant risk because they can be exploited or sold by Initial Access Brokers (IABs) to orchestrate various attacks, including ransomware, social engineering, and Remote Access Trojans (RATs).
MaaS infostealers and automated stealer logs on on the deep and dark web
Threat actors leverage Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) models to distribute infostealers. This, along with automated operations that collect and distribute stolen data logs from infected devices across Telegram channels and dark web marketplaces, has fueled the growth of a readily accessible market for stealer logs.
These logs, frequently aggregated by bots, are readily available on Telegram, either for free or through subscription services, significantly simplifying the access for cybercriminals.
We used Lunar, Webz.io’s dark web monitoring tool, to track the distribution of stealer logs on Telegram. The following chart, taken from Lunar, shows a surge in the number of posts which mention stealer logs on Telegram, since the start of 2024:
Where can you find stealer logs on the deep and dark web?
Stealer logs appear on different sources across the deep and dark web. Some of the primary sources include:
Telegram
Telegram is notable for being a widely-used platform that facilitates the dissemination of stealer logs via channels that host data from various bots. These channels often present users with the option to access logs either for free or through subscription-based models, granting private log access. Channels purporting to offer premium-quality logs typically impose a monthly fee ranging from several hundred dollars to $1000.
Marketplaces
The surging demand for stealer logs has spurred a rise in their accessibility across dark web marketplaces like Russian Market and 2easy. These platforms are dedicated to vending stealer logs, offered at diverse prices ranging from $5 to $100, based on factors such as the volume of authentication data, associated accounts, and more.
Underground forums
Initial Access Brokers (IAB) are likely targeting corporate logs containing valuable data, facilitating easier access and subsequent sale on dark web forums such as XSS and Exploit.
The next image shows a post that was published on the XSS forum where an IAB is selling access to a government domain. We believe that this is facilitated by corporate stealer logs that they have acquired and used.
How to search for stealer log accounts?
How to search for stealer log accounts
Finding stealer logs in the deep and dark web is a complex task. We at Webz.io continuously scan dark web marketplaces, datastores, and chat applications, to expand our scope of stealer logs.
To illustrate it, we used Intel and searched for stealer logs associated with its domain (Intel.com) . We used Lunar’s enriched.category:stealer_logs tag to retrieve results that were classified as stealer logs. We further narrowed our search to logs associated with the Intel.com domain, enriched.domain.value:intel.com.
Here is a screenshot of the stealer log results found on Lunar related to Intel.
The logs in this example were published on Russian Market and contain information about compromised Intel accounts. We classify it as a high risk log due to the nature of the site and the fact that it contains various details associated with the Intel domain, including cookies, passwords, etc.
How to Identify and Mitigate Threats from Stealer Logs
To effectively mitigate the risks posed by these readily available troves of compromised credentials, organizations must prioritize both identification and mitigation strategies.
Identifying Compromised Credentials
- Utilize Dark Web Monitoring Tools: Employ dedicated dark web monitoring tools and threat intelligence platforms to actively scan for stolen credentials and sensitive data associated with your organization.
- Prioritize Key Sources: Focus monitoring efforts on known marketplaces, forums, and channels where stealer logs are frequently traded, ensuring comprehensive coverage of potential exposure points.
Mitigating the Risks
- Immediate Credential Invalidation: Upon identification of compromised credentials, promptly invalidate them by forcing password resets for all affected accounts, preventing unauthorized access.
- Vulnerability Remediation: Address any identified security gaps or vulnerabilities in your systems that may have facilitated the initial compromise, strengthening your overall security posture.
- Employee Education and Awareness: Conduct regular training sessions to educate employees about phishing attacks, emphasize the importance of strong password practices, and promote secure browsing habits to minimize future risks.
By combining proactive monitoring with robust security protocols and continuous employee education, organizations can effectively minimize the impact of stealer logs and safeguard their valuable assets in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Monitoring stealer logs in 2025
Stealer logs are not going away, and their presence on the dark web serves as a stark reminder of the need to stay vigilant. While the ease with which cybercriminals can acquire and use this information poses a significant threat, proactive monitoring by cybersecurity professionals can help mitigate such risks.
By actively tracking stealer logs on the dark web, with dark web monitoring tools like Lunar, Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) teams can stay ahead of emerging threats, such as account takeovers and ransomware attacks. To effectively mitigate these risks, organizations should prioritize the implementation of dark web monitoring solutions and develop comprehensive strategies for analyzing and responding to stealer log data.
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