已登录用户修改密码需CAPTCHA验证的合理性探讨及Last.fm案例问询

Hey there, let's walk through your questions and the situation you're facing—totally get why this would be frustrating, especially after finding out your account was part of a data leak.

Does Last.fm require CAPTCHA when changing passwords in account settings? #

From user reports and real-world experiences (including yours), yes—Last.fm does enforce CAPTCHA verification for password changes, even when you're already logged into your account. This isn't a one-off glitch; it's a deliberate security measure the platform has implemented, and it often gets stricter for accounts flagged as high-risk (like yours, since it showed up in a data leak via haveibeenpwned).

Why does a logged-in user still need CAPTCHA just to change their password? #

There are three key security reasons platforms like Last.fm do this:

• Block session hijacking attempts: Even if you're logged in, there's a small chance your session could be compromised (e.g., via malware on your device, or stolen session cookies). CAPTCHA adds an extra barrier to stop automated tools that might have taken over your session from locking you out by changing your password without your knowledge.
• Mitigate post-breach risks: Since your account was part of a Last.fm data leak, the platform likely flags it as high-risk. Adding CAPTCHA to sensitive actions like password changes helps prevent attackers who might have obtained your old leaked credentials from exploiting the account further—even if they somehow managed to log in.
• Stop automated abuse: Bad actors often use scripts to mass-compromise accounts and change passwords at scale. CAPTCHA is a standard way to block these automated attempts, because scripts can't easily solve most modern CAPTCHAs (making the attack unprofitable for them).

It’s really disappointing that you couldn’t get past the CAPTCHA and had to delete your account— that’s a rough outcome. If you ever consider creating a new account later, sometimes switching browsers, clearing your cache/cookies, or using a different network can help with CAPTCHA issues (since repeated attempts from the same device/IP might trigger stricter checks).

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Luc