What is Ashley Madison?

Ashley Madison is an online dating service specifically targeting individuals who are married or in a committed relationship, promoting itself as a discreet platform for those seeking extramarital affairs or secretive liaisons. Founded in 2002 by Darren Morgenstern, the site gained notoriety for its controversial business model, with the slogan "Life is short. Have an affair." It experienced significant media coverage in 2015 when it suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of numerous users, raising issues surrounding privacy, cybersecurity, and the morality of the services offered. Despite this setback, Ashley Madison continued to operate and claimed to have a growing user base, offering various features to ensure anonymity and security for its members.