Weekly Update 511: Live from my Riad in Marrakech
In this weekly update recorded from a riad in Marrakech, Troy Hunt discusses the futility of trying to delete personal data from the internet, comparing it to removing urine from a swimming pool, while covering recent data breaches.
Background
- Troy Hunt is a well-known Australian security researcher and Microsoft Regional Director. He runs "Have I Been Pwned" (HIBP), a free service that lets people check if their personal data has been exposed in a data breach.
- "Pee in a pool" is Hunt's recurring metaphor for data removal: once data is leaked online, trying to fully delete it is like trying to remove urine from a swimming pool — technically near-impossible.
- This post is part of Hunt's long-running "Weekly Update" video/podcast series, where he discusses recent breaches, security news, and behind-the-scenes HIBP developments. He often records from wherever he is traveling.
- Scott (mentioned in passing) is likely Scott Helme, a fellow security researcher and frequent collaborator who often appears in these updates.