Key evaluation criteria

• Marketplace coverage: does the tool monitor the criminal marketplaces where infostealer logs are actually traded? This includes dark web forums, Telegram, and Discord. Not all tools have access to the same sources.

• Session token detection: does it detect stolen session tokens and cookies, or only passwords? Session tokens bypass most MFA methods, making this the highest-risk data in a stealer log.

• Context per detection: when a detection is made, do you get enough context to act? Look for device information, malware type, infection timeline, and the specific sessions compromised.

• Speed of detection: how quickly after a log appears on a marketplace are you alerted? Hours matter, since stolen sessions can be used immediately.

• API access: can you integrate alerts into your existing security stack, such as SIEM, SOAR, or ticketing? Manual dashboard-only tools create operational overhead.

• Data residency: where is the data processed and stored? European organizations may require a provider that operates within the EU.

Red flags to watch for

Be cautious of tools that claim to be infostealer monitoring but only check against historical breach databases. Watch for tools that detect compromised sessions but do not provide device context or infection details, since without this your response is limited to blanket password resets. Also ask vendors how they source their data: some providers pay criminals directly for stolen logs, which raises ethical and legal questions. Passguard does not pay criminals for data.