What happened during the Ashley Madison cyber attack?

During the Ashley Madison cyber attack, a group of hackers known as "The Impact Team" infiltrated the systems of the Ashley Madison website, which is a platform designed for married individuals seeking extramarital affairs. In July 2015, the attackers compromised sensitive customer data, including personal details, email addresses, and account information of approximately 32 million users. The Impact Team threatened to release the stolen data unless Avid Life Media, the owner of Ashley Madison, shut down the site. When their demands were not met by the deadline, the hackers published the stolen data on the dark web, leading to widespread personal and professional repercussions for the exposed users. The breach spurred numerous lawsuits and investigations, intensified public discourse on digital privacy and cybersecurity, and highlighted the profound real-world impacts of virtual information being weaponized against individuals and companies.