What could happen if a cyber criminal gains access to a user’s email and password?

When a cyber criminal gains access to a user's email and password, one of the significant risks is that they can sell the credentials to other attackers. This act is commonly referred to as credential dumping, where the attacker takes compromised usernames and passwords and sells them on the dark web or to other cybercriminals. This not only allows others to gain further access to the compromised account but also facilitates a broader range of cyber attacks across different platforms and services, increasing the potential damage.

In addition to selling credentials, attackers could perform various malicious activities, but selling them is a prevalent outcome because it provides financial gain and allows the attacker to operate without needing to engage directly with the victim. This action can lead to a chain reaction of security breaches, as multiple thieves may then exploit the same stolen information to infiltrate additional accounts and systems.