How does the Ashley Madison dating service operate?

Ashley Madison is a dating service specifically tailored toward people who are seeking discreet relationships, often outside the bounds of their current partnerships or marriages. Operating primarily through its website and mobile app platforms, users sign up with a degree of anonymity, creating profiles without attaching their real names, though they may divulge personal tastes and desires that facilitate matches with like-minded individuals. Communication tools such as messages and winks allow for interaction between users. Privacy is paramount; thus, Ashley Madison offers features designed to maintain secrecy, such as photo blurring and discreet billing options. Although its business model was marred by a data breach scandal in 2015, the service continues to offer a platform for those searching for extramarital or non-monogamous relationships, capitalizing on the niche market of affair dating.