A paste site is a public website where anyone can post a block of text to share, such as code or notes. Pastebin is the best known example. Attackers also use these sites to post stolen data, so they are watched as an early place where breaches can show up.
- Also Called2other namesPastebin · paste site
- Related Terms3linked entriesData leak site · Leaked credentials · Dark web
What are paste sites?
Have I Been Pwned describes a paste as information that has been pasted to a public website built for sharing content, such as Pastebin. Developers use these sites to share code and other text, which is how MITRE describes them too. The same openness is what makes them useful to criminals.
Why do attackers use paste sites?
Have I Been Pwned says hackers favor these services because it is easy to share information anonymously, and that they are frequently the first place a breach appears. MITRE ATT&CK also lists exfiltration to text storage sites as technique T1567.003. It says adversaries may use such sites, with pastebin.com as an example, to move data out instead of relying only on a command and control channel, and may use paid features and encryption to hide stolen data.
- 40 secondsUsual time for HIBP to index a new paste after it appearsSource: Have I Been Pwned FAQ
How are paste sites monitored?
Have I Been Pwned adds pastes through a mix of manual and automated means, and keeps the email addresses and details about the paste, not the paste itself. Pastes often disappear quickly, so a deleted paste cannot be shown later. A company can watch for its own domain, staff email addresses and key terms in the same way, as part of dark web and leak monitoring.
Is an email address in a paste a confirmed breach?
Not necessarily. Have I Been Pwned says finding an address in a paste does not by itself confirm a breach, and that the paste content should be reviewed to judge whether an account was compromised. Pastes are different from a data leak site, which is a site run by attackers to publish data stolen from a victim.
How can you reduce the risk from paste sites?
- Watch for your domainCheck paste sites for company email addresses, keywords and credentials.
- Reset what is exposedChange any password found in a paste and end open sessions.
- Limit outbound useMITRE lists web proxies that enforce policy on external services as a mitigation (M1021).
- Check the contentRead the paste before concluding that a breach has happened.
See also leaked credentials, a common kind of data found in pastes.
Also Called.
- NamePastebin
- Namepaste site
Questions.
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What is Pastebin?
Pastebin is a public text storage site where people share code and other text. MITRE ATT&CK names pastebin.com as an example of a text storage site.
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Why do hackers use Pastebin?
Have I Been Pwned says paste services are favored because information can be shared anonymously and easily, and a breach frequently appears there first. MITRE also lists them as a place to exfiltrate data.
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Does finding my email in a paste mean I was breached?
Not necessarily. Review the paste itself to judge whether an account was compromised.
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How fast are new pastes picked up?
Have I Been Pwned says it usually indexes a new paste within 40 seconds, and many pastes disappear quickly.
Sources
In Our Research
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- 4 Silent Lynx: Up-and-Coming Espionage Threat From Central Asia October 2025
- 5 Data Leaks: The Silent Killer of Trust — And How to Stop Them June 2025
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