What happened during the Ashley Madison app hack incident?

The Ashley Madison app hack incident was a significant event that occurred in July 2015 when a group calling itself The Impact Team breached the systems of the Ashley Madison dating website, which is specifically geared towards married individuals seeking extramarital affairs. The hackers accessed sensitive customer data including names, email addresses, credit card information, and encrypted passwords, threatening to release the information unless the site was shut down. Despite efforts to mitigate the situation, the hackers eventually released over 25 gigabytes of company data, exposing the personal details of over 30 million users. This led to widespread media attention, public embarrassment for individuals whose affairs were uncovered, numerous lawsuits against Avid Life Media (the parent company), and debates about internet privacy and cybersecurity. The incident not only highlighted the vulnerability of personal data on online platforms but also raised moral questions regarding the nature of the service provided by Ashley Madison.