QUESTION
What names were leaked in the Ashley Madison data breach?
ANSWER
In July 2015, the Ashley Madison website, a platform designed for extramarital affairs, suffered a significant data breach. The hackers, known as "The Impact Team," gained access to user data and threatened to release it unless the site was shut down. When their demands were not met, they published a large cache of personal information online in August 2015. The leak exposed the details of over 30 million user accounts, including names, email addresses, physical addresses, credit card information, and profile descriptions. Notably, many users had employed pseudonyms or used private email accounts to protect their identities; however, the inclusion of credit card data and other identifying information rendered such precautions ineffective in numerous cases. High-profile individuals from various spheres – politics, entertainment, media, and others – were reportedly among those whose names were implicated in the scandal, leading to public embarrassment and personal repercussions for some.
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