What was the Ashley Madison data leak?

The Ashley Madison data leak was a major cybersecurity breach that occurred in July 2015, when a group of hackers known as The Impact Team infiltrated the systems of Ashley Madison, a website designed to facilitate extramarital affairs. The hackers obtained sensitive personal information from its users, including names, email addresses, credit card details, and user preferences. Subsequently, the data was published online, exposing the privacy of millions of users worldwide. This breach not only highlighted the vulnerability of personal data on internet platforms but also raised significant concerns about privacy, security, and the ethical implications of such services. It led to numerous lawsuits and calls for stronger online security measures to protect user data.