What was the Ashley Madison affair?

The Ashley Madison affair refers to a significant security breach that occurred in July 2015, when a group of hackers known as "Impact Team" infiltrated the systems of Ashley Madison, a website designed to facilitate extramarital affairs. The hackers stole sensitive personal data from the site's user base, which boasted millions of members worldwide. The stolen information included names, passwords, addresses, and credit card details, along with personal messages exchanged between users. In a bid to shut down the site, the hackers threatened to release the data unless their demands were met. Despite negotiations and attempts to secure the compromised data, the information was ultimately leaked on the dark web. The aftermath saw numerous reports of blackmail, broken marriages, and even suicides connected to the exposure of private activities facilitated by the site. This incident underscored serious concerns about digital security and privacy in an age where online services store vast amounts of personal information.