Cookie Theft: Fraudsters Hijack Digital Accounts via Session Cookies

• •Session cookies are a primary target for hackers, enabling account hijacking.
• •NordVPN reported 52 billion stolen cookies circulating online in the past year.
• •Malware is the common vector for stealing session cookies from users' devices.

Fraudsters are increasingly targeting session cookies to hijack online accounts, a method known as session hijacking. In the past year, NordVPN identified 52 billion stolen cookies circulating online. When users log into websites, they receive unique session cookies that store their data temporarily. If a hacker steals an active session cookie, they can access the user's account without needing a password or triggering login alerts. This theft typically occurs through malware downloaded by users, which extracts these cookies from the browser's database. Victims may not realize they have been compromised until unauthorized actions are taken on their accounts. The impact can range from social media scams to unauthorized bank transactions. Users are advised to be cautious about the software and extensions they download to avoid infostealer malware.