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Stolen credentials give attackers a shortcut: instead of breaking into an account from scratch, they can try a password, impersonate the account holder, or exploit related access such as a stolen login token or a malicious app authorization. The risks range from personal account takeover and financial loss to unauthorized access to workplace systems. There is no universal rate showing how often all threat actors use stolen credentials, but FBI cases and a scoped Verizon analysis show why they matter.
How do attackers get passwords and other account access?
Credential theft is not limited to malware. Attackers can trick people into entering information, impersonate trusted people, guess weak passwords, reuse credentials exposed in earlier breaches, or obtain them through criminal forums. The FBI describes social engineering through email, texts, and calls, as well as brute forcing and the use of breach-derived credentials in account takeover schemes (FBI IC3: Account Takeover Fraud; FBI IC3: Social Engineering Techniques).
Phishing pages and fake support
A fraudulent login page may imitate a bank, payroll service, or employee self-service portal. Search ads can place a lookalike site above the legitimate result, so a familiar-looking search listing is not proof that a page is genuine. The FBI warns that these schemes may capture passwords and request a one-time MFA code as well (FBI IC3: Employee Self-Service Website Scams).
Attackers may also pose as an organization’s support staff or a financial institution. An unexpected call or message can be used to persuade someone to disclose a password or authentication code. Caller ID can be spoofed, and a request to continue the conversation on another messaging app does not establish that the person is legitimate (FBI IC3: Account Takeover Fraud via Impersonation of Financial Institution Support; FBI IC3: Social Engineering Techniques).
#1 Best Overall
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Malware, reused passwords, and breach data
Infostealer malware can collect saved credentials from infected devices. Credentials exposed in an earlier breach may also be tried against other services, especially when people reuse passwords. Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report examined ransomware-site victims and found that 54% had a domain appear in at least one infostealer log or marketplace posting; 40% of those logs contained corporate email addresses. Those figures describe Verizon’s examined sample and a possible infostealer–ransomware connection, not all ransomware victims or proof that a listed credential was used (Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report).
Access can outlast the password
A password is not the only thing that can open or preserve access to an account. The FBI has described phishing that captures Microsoft 365 access and refresh tokens, and consent phishing in which a victim authorizes a malicious application. That app may then retain API access without the attacker repeatedly entering the password or prompting for MFA at each use (FBI IC3: Kali365 Phishing-as-a-Service Kit Hijacks Microsoft 365 Access Tokens; FBI IC3: Malicious Cyber Actors Gain Access to Victim Accounts Through Consent Phishing).
Rank #2
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5C NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
What can an attacker do with stolen credentials?
Once an attacker can access an account, they may take it over, steal information or money, or use it as a foothold to reach other resources. In financial-institution impersonation cases, the FBI warns of account takeover fraud in which criminals seek money or information. In employee self-service scams, changing direct-deposit details can divert future payments (FBI IC3: Account Takeover Fraud; FBI IC3: Employee Self-Service Website Scams).
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteScale figures should be read in context. In its November 25, 2025 alert, the FBI said IC3 had received more than 5,100 complaints reporting account takeover fraud since January 2025, with losses exceeding $262 million. These are complaints and reported losses received as of that alert—not a count of every incident, nor a total for all credential theft (FBI IC3, November 25, 2025).
Rank #3
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
How can you reduce the risk?
- Use a different, strong password for each important account. If a password was exposed, change it and any reused copies. A password manager can help you maintain unique passwords; no particular service is endorsed here.
- Turn on MFA wherever it is available. CISA says MFA makes access more difficult even if a password is compromised. Never give a one-time code to someone who contacts you unexpectedly. Where an account supports phishing-resistant authentication such as a FIDO2/WebAuthn security key, consider it, and check the account’s compatibility and recovery options first. No authentication method makes compromise impossible (CISA: More than a Password).
- Go directly to login pages. Use a saved bookmark or the organization’s known official app or website for banking, payroll, and work accounts instead of a search ad or an unexpected message link.
- Verify unexpected support requests independently. End the interaction and contact the organization through a trusted number or official channel. Do not rely on caller ID alone.
- Review app permissions. If you may have approved a suspicious OAuth consent request, check connected applications and revoke unfamiliar grants. A malicious app authorization can preserve access even when no password prompt appears.
What should you do if your credentials may have been stolen?
- Use a trusted device and route to the account. Open the official app or type a known address rather than following the message or search result that raised suspicion.
- Change the exposed password. Replace it with a unique password, and change any other account password that reused it. If you cannot sign in, use the service’s official account-recovery process.
- Secure the account and check its activity. Enable MFA if available, review recent sign-ins and account changes, and remove unfamiliar connected apps or permissions.
- Act quickly if money or payments are involved. Contact the financial institution through its official channel. If payroll direct-deposit details may have been changed, notify the employer’s payroll team using a verified contact method.
- Follow workplace incident procedures. For an organizational account, report the suspected exposure to IT or security staff. Their review may need to cover service accounts and other exposed secrets, not only a person’s password.
- Report suspected internet crime. The FBI directs victims to report account takeover fraud to IC3 (FBI IC3: Account Takeover Fraud).
Does MFA stop account takeover?
MFA adds a barrier: as CISA explains, it makes it more difficult for a threat actor to gain access to systems such as email and billing even if a password has been compromised (CISA: More than a Password). But attackers may try to trick a person into handing over a one-time code, or steal a session token or obtain persistent app access. MFA is therefore a valuable safeguard, not a guarantee; keep codes private, verify login prompts, and review account and app activity.
Authentication options differ in phishing resistance, convenience, service support, and recovery if a device is lost. The cited guidance supports using MFA but does not provide controlled head-to-head performance figures for password-only access, one-time-code MFA, and security keys. Check which methods your specific service supports before relying on one.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The information below is per-pack only
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
Rank #4
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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