Why Leak Databases Are Essential for Investigations
When investigating individuals or companies, leak databases rank among the most valuable OSINT sources available.
What are leak databases?
They contain data from documented data breaches and infostealer malware: compromised email addresses, usernames, phone numbers, password hashes, and platform registrations.
This information is available nowhere else – not on Google, not on social media.
Our research covers up to three of the following identifiers:
- Email addresses
- Usernames / aliases
- Phone numbers (primarily mobile)
- Full name
- Addresses
A compromised email address can reveal hidden identities or alias relationships.
An infostealer log shows which platforms someone has logged into.
Breach data provides investigative leads that would otherwise remain invisible.
The Problem: Professional Access Costs Up to $35,000 Per Year
Breach database providers target enterprise customers: security teams at major corporations or detective agencies with high case volumes.
Annual licenses cost $17,000–35,000. Pay-per-use models are virtually non-existent.
The math:
With 20 cases per year, that's $850–1,750 in database costs per case – just for access.
It only becomes cost-effective at around 150 searches per year.
Additionally, these systems are complex: each provider uses different interfaces, search syntaxes, and filtering logic.
Example: How do you meaningfully filter 1,847 hits for "John Smith"? Without daily use, expertise quickly fades.
Result: 90% of investigators forgo breach intelligence – and systematically miss critical investigative leads.
What Happens Without Breach Intelligence?
The Overlooked Connection
A law firm investigated an economic dispute.
LinkedIn, Google, commercial registers – everything checked, no incriminating material.
The case was dropped.
Six months later, it emerged: the opposing party used a Gmail address that appeared in a 2019 forum breach.
In that forum, the same person published confidential information under a pseudonym.
The breach data would have linked the pseudonym to the real identity.
The information was available the entire time – but nobody found it.
One Database Isn't Enough
A corporate investigator used a single breach database.
Result: No hits.
Two months later, a colleague commissioned a multi-source search.
Result: 3 breaches in other databases, including a 2023 infostealer log with compromised credentials.
Conclusion: One source never provides the complete picture.
Our Approach: Multi-Source Research as a Service
Why Multi-Source Is Critical
We query multiple leading breach providers in parallel. An example:
| Database | Hits | Unique Records |
|---|---|---|
| A | 2 breaches | – |
| B | 4 breaches (2 identical to A) | 2 |
| C | 6 breaches + 1 infostealer log | 7 |
| Total | 12 hits | 9 unique datasets |
With only one database, over 75% of relevant information would have been missed.
Each provider has different sources:
A sources underground leaks from Russian forums,
B focuses on Asian markets,
C delivers real-time infostealer intelligence.
Professional Review for Common Names
An investigator commissioned us to research "Michael Schmidt, born 1978, Munich area".
Raw data: 1,847 hits worldwide.
Our process:
- Filter for German email providers → 234 hits
- Cross-check with birth year in username → 18 hits
- Manual validation (IP ranges, timestamps) → 4 relevant candidates
Result: Plausibility assessment and clear documentation.
"That's exactly what I needed." – Client feedback.
The Added Value: Identifier Chaining
A lawyer commissioned us to research "Jan Marsalek".
Our steps:
- Name → Company email found in leak
- Company email → Private Gmail + mobile number in additional breaches
- Mobile number → Registrations on business platforms
From one identifier came 7 new leads.
"That's exactly the chain I needed." – Client after final report
Breach data reveals connections visible nowhere else:
A person uses email A for LinkedIn, email B privately, phone number C for business accounts.
These cross-references exist only in leak data.
Key Takeaway
Without breach intelligence, up to 80% of relevant traces remain undiscovered.
Professional multi-source analysis makes the difference between a dead end and a decisive investigative lead.
What You Receive
- ✓Word report: Executive summary, breach timeline, risk assessment, source citations
- ✓Excel export: All raw data (breach names, dates, masked passwords, phone numbers, metadata)
- ✓Delivery: End-to-end encrypted via Tresorit
- ✓Data deletion: Immediate deletion after completion
Pricing & Terms
Price structure:
You pay for professional research – not for results.
Confidentiality and data security are guaranteed.
Data Protection & Legal Compliance:
- ✓No storage of client data – immediate deletion after completion
- ✓Confidentiality agreement
- ✓End-to-end encryption via Tresorit
- ✓GDPR-compliant: Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR)
- ✓Strict data minimization, no sensitive data categories, no archiving
❓FAQ – Common Questions About Using Leak Databases
Yes – with professional application and clear purpose limitation, the use is legally permissible.
Our investigative services are based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR ("legitimate interest") and serve legitimate purposes such as fraud prevention, cybersecurity analysis, due diligence investigations, or forensic investigations on behalf of clients.
All research is conducted purpose-bound, specific, and manual – never automated or in bulk.
Ready for Professional Breach Intelligence?
Breach intelligence is essential today.
Access doesn't have to cost $20,000.
💡 Request your first breach investigation now – from €199, results in 48 hours.