What was the Ashley Madison email hack incident?

The Ashley Madison email hack incident, which took place in July 2015, was a high-profile cybersecurity breach that targeted the user data of Ashley Madison, a website known for facilitating extramarital affairs. The impact team, a group of hackers, claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened to release sensitive information pertaining to the site's user base unless Ashley Madison and its sister sites were taken offline. Despite the ultimatum, the websites remained operational, leading to the public disclosure of personal data belonging to more than 30 million users. This data included names, email addresses, credit card information, and other potentially compromising details. The incident led to widespread media attention, numerous lawsuits, and highlighted significant concerns regarding digital privacy and security in an era where online activities are intricately linked with real-world identities.