Have I Been Pwned (HIBP), a widely recognized data breach notification platform initiated by security researcher Troy Hunt, has unveiled a significant front-end redesign aimed at enhancing breach visibility and establishing a framework for future enhancements. In a discussion with InfoQ, Hunt elucidated that automation, family account enrollment, and refined enterprise workflows are high on the agenda for immediate development, while also advocating for more robust breach disclosure practices within the industry.
This update introduces a sleek user interface and several additional pages designed to assist both individuals and organizations in monitoring compromised credentials and domains more effectively. Hunt noted that the redesign was not merely a superficial upgrade but a strategic response to the shifting demands of the user base, particularly a desire for HIBP to adopt a more user-friendly and approachable interface.
The structural overhaul prepares HIBP for future functionalities, including support for passkeys and delegated account management, reflecting current security trends and real-world usage behaviors. For instance, users can now enroll email addresses of family members, catering to those who often act as informal tech support for relatives.
This version 2.0 release brings numerous front-end enhancements designed to boost usability and situational awareness. The updated Search page delivers quicker response times alongside a more organized layout, while the new Breach page presents a clearer breakdown of breach specifics.
Source: troyhunt.com
The revamped dashboard amalgamates monitored email addresses and domain results into a single interface, offering persistent insight into breach activity without necessitating repetitive searches.
Source: troyhunt.com
For-paying subscribers managing multiple domains, the newly enhanced domain search feature helps identify individuals within their organization who have been affected by data breaches.
As demand grows from individuals and organizations, particularly those overseeing extensive user bases and domains, priorities such as automation, visibility, and responsible disclosure remain central to HIBP’s future trajectory. InfoQ engaged in further conversation with Troy Hunt to dive deeper into the motivations that fueled the release and to explore the prospective evolution of HIBP.
InfoQ: How do you envision HIBP evolving in the face of shifting authentication paradigms such as passkeys, federated identity, and AI-enhanced security solutions?
Troy Hunt: While these approaches signify progress, they do not fundamentally alter the probability of data breaches. They transform the impact—passkeys eliminate password reuse and reduce the risk of account takeovers. However, they do not eliminate the exposure of other personal identifiable information (PII).
InfoQ: With the release now active, which capabilities or scenarios are you particularly eager to develop next?
Troy Hunt: My next focus may seem mundane, but automating our current manual processes is paramount. This includes empowering resellers to manage their clients directly and enabling our enterprise customers to generate quotes seamlessly without additional ticketing. This transition is essential for managing compliance and procurement efficiently, allowing us to reallocate resources rapidly to automation. Additionally, I’m excited about features enabling users to enroll family members’ email addresses.
InfoQ: In your assessment, which areas of breach notification or data protection are still lacking, and what innovations might emerge in the coming years?
Troy Hunt: This is a crucial issue for me, and I have extensively engaged with governments and law enforcement globally about disclosure. Frequently, victims of data breaches are not informed about their compromised data, often facilitated by legal loopholes for companies. I elaborated on this in my September post: The Data Breach Disclosure Conundrum.
