What is the Ashley Madison data dump?

The Ashley Madison data dump refers to the substantial breach that occurred in July 2015, when hackers infiltrated the databases of Ashley Madison, a website that promotes extramarital affairs. The attackers, known as "The Impact Team," accessed sensitive personal information of over 30 million users, including names, email addresses, credit card data, and other private details. In a high-profile example of hacktivism, the group threatened to release the information unless Avid Life Media, the site's parent company, shut down Ashley Madison and its sister site "Established Men." When these demands were not met, the hackers released the data on the dark web and various torrent sites, leading to widespread repercussions including privacy lawsuits, public shaming of individuals whose information was leaked, and discussions about cybersecurity and digital ethics.