What is the Ashley Madison data leak and how can it be searched?

The Ashley Madison data leak was a high-profile incident in 2015 where hackers obtained and exposed personal information of users from the Ashley Madison website, which is known for facilitating extramarital affairs. The leaked data included names, passwords, addresses, and payment details for millions of the site's members. Once the data was released publicly on the internet, numerous websites and forums popped up allowing people to search through the trove of exposed data. Some of these platforms offered search functions that required only an email address or name to determine if someone's information was part of the leak. However, searching such databases raises legal and ethical issues, and individuals doing so should be aware that using stolen data can have legal implications, not to mention the potential invasion of privacy suffered by those affected by the leak.