QUESTION
What information can be found on the Ashley Madison data breach?
ANSWER
The Ashley Madison data breach, which occurred in July 2015, involved the exposure of personal information belonging to users of the adultery-promoting dating website Ashley Madison. Hackers, who identified themselves as The Impact Team, gained access to the site's database and stole sensitive user data that included names, passwords, addresses, phone numbers, and transaction records. Subsequently, the hackers threatened to release this information to the public unless the site was taken down. Despite attempts to mitigate the situation, the hackers released the data online a month later, leading to widespread privacy concerns, public embarrassment for users, and triggering discussions on internet security and the morality of Ashley Madison's business model. The breach also had legal repercussions as multiple lawsuits were filed against Avid Life Media, the parent company of Ashley Madison, prompting them to enhance their security measures and offer settlements to affected parties.
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