When users encounter a phishing email, the danger extends far beyond the initial click. A typical phishing attack begins when someone is deceived into entering their login credentials on a fake website.
However, this is merely the starting point. Once cybercriminals obtain the stolen information, it immediately becomes valuable merchandise in the underground market.
The data transforms into a commodity that fuels a continuous cycle of attacks and fraud that can persist for years.
Understanding the full scope of phishing requires examining what happens after the initial compromise.
Researchers tracking these campaigns have discovered that stolen credentials follow a complex journey through underground networks.
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From collection to sale and reuse, each step involves specialized tools and organized criminal infrastructure.
This comprehensive process reveals why even older data leaks remain dangerous and how attackers exploit the same information multiple times across different targets.
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Securelist analysts identified several critical stages in this data lifecycle that showcase the sophisticated nature of modern phishing operations.
The research demonstrates that cybercriminals have developed an efficient system for converting stolen information into actionable attack vectors against new victims.
How Phishing Data Gets Harvested and Transmitted
The technical methods used to collect and transmit stolen data have evolved significantly. Researchers studying real phishing pages discovered three primary approaches attackers employ.
The first method involves sending data directly to an email address through a PHP script embedded in the phishing page.
However, this approach is becoming less common due to email service limitations, including delivery delays and the risk of hosting providers blocking malicious traffic.
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A second method uses Telegram bots for data collection. Instead of routing information through email, the PHP script sends stolen credentials to a Telegram API using a bot token and chat ID.
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This approach offers attackers significant advantages over email methods. Data arrives instantly with real-time notifications, and criminals can use disposable bots that are difficult to track and block.
The bot’s performance remains unaffected by phishing page hosting quality, making this method increasingly popular among attackers.
More sophisticated threat actors deploy specialized administration panels like BulletProofLink and Caffeine platforms.
These commercial frameworks function as PaaS services and provide unified dashboards for managing multiple phishing campaigns.
All harvested credentials feed into centralized databases accessible through attacker accounts, enabling efficient management and monetization of stolen data at scale.
This infrastructure represents a significant evolution in phishing operations, transforming them from simple schemes into organized criminal enterprises.
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