Every few minutes, the stolen data was bundled into small text files and "exfiltrated" to a Command and Control (C2) server managed by a "traff" (a cybercriminal specializing in traffic generation).
Hidden inside those files was , Vidar , or Raccoon Stealer —types of malware known as "infostealers." Once executed, the malware silently swept through the victims' computers, harvesting: Saved passwords from Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. LOGS 30.12.22_[@leakbase.cc]_4ca1.rar
Once posted, the file was downloaded by several types of actors: Every few minutes, the stolen data was bundled
The story begins weeks before the file was ever named. Thousands of individual users across the globe clicked on something they shouldn't have—perhaps a "cracked" version of a popular video game, a fake software update, or a suspicious email attachment. Thousands of individual users across the globe clicked
By late December 2022, the operator of this particular operation had amassed thousands of these individual folders. To monetize them, they packaged them into a single archive. The tag [@leakbase.cc] was added as a digital watermark to build the reputation of the forum or the uploader within the underground community. The Release: December 30, 2022
For the owners of the credentials inside 4ca1.rar , the "story" ended in one of two ways. Some found themselves locked out of their social media or bank accounts weeks later, wondering how it happened. Others, who practiced good digital hygiene—using password managers and unique passwords—remained safe, as a password stolen from a random forum login couldn't be used to break into their primary email.
Who monitor these leaks to alert companies that their employees' credentials have been compromised. The Aftermath