What information was leaked during the Ashley Madison breach?

During the Ashley Madison breach, which occurred in July 2015, a substantial amount of sensitive information was leaked from the online dating platform, which targeted individuals seeking extramarital affairs. Hackers obtained access to user data that included names, emails, home addresses, financial details like credit card numbers, and transaction history. Apart from these personal identifiers, the breach revealed users' sexual preferences and fantasies, as detailed in their site profiles. The fallout was significant due to the nature of the service and the potential for personal embarrassment and blackmail; several users even faced threats of exposure. This breach impacted approximately 32 million users worldwide, causing enormous concerns about data security and privacy on the internet.