Cybersecurity received another wake-up call in early 2025, when Forbes reported that infostealer malware engines had pulled off a staggering haul: 1.8 billion stolen credentials and 9 billion exposed data records in just the first half of the year (forbes.com).
These attacks were not a one-off breach of a single system. Instead, they are part of a growing global trend driven by infostealer malware. These tools are sold under a malware-as-a-service model and quietly siphon user credentials, autofill data, credit-card info, and cryptocurrency addresses.
Flashpoint’s mid-year Global Threat Intelligence Index highlights the escalating danger: stolen credentials become the initial access point for broader, multi-stage attacks. Even a single compromised account can trigger a catastrophic chain reaction. One example is Orange Spain’s outage that impacted BGP routing and internet services, which began with stolen corporate login info.
Scale of exposure is massive. 1.8 billion credentials and 9 billion records are not just statistics. They represent a huge attack surface for credential stuffing, impersonation, fraud, and more.
Infostealers are cheap and flexible. Threat actors can launch credible attacks or sell stolen data for minimal investment.
The risk is not theoretical. Multi-stage attacks leveraging stolen credentials cause real damage including outages, hijacked services, or large-scale data exfiltration.
Many organizations rely on detecting threats after they have already breached systems. This reactive approach is no longer enough. When credentials are stolen, attackers often already have a foothold inside your network.
Instead, the shift must be toward isolation and containment -- blocking malware from executing, containing attack vectors before lateral spread, and preventing attackers from moving across systems.
AppGuard, with over a decade of proven success, empowers businesses to pivot from reactive to proactive defense:
Prevents malware execution in the first place, rather than chasing intrusions.
Isolates applications at the process level, so even if malware is delivered, it cannot hijack systems.
Contains attacks instantly, stopping lateral movement before attackers gain deep access.
Delivers enterprise-grade protection now accessible to businesses, backed by 10 years of real-world validation.
If your current cybersecurity strategy still relies on detect and respond, the time to upgrade is now.
Talk to us at CHIPS about how AppGuard can help your organization shift to true isolation and containment, preventing the kind of catastrophic credential theft and multi-stage attacks highlighted in the Forbes report.
Move your security from reactive to proactive. In today’s threat landscape, safeguarding your credentials and digital perimeter cannot wait.
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