What was the scandal surrounding the Ashley Madison website?

The scandal surrounding the Ashley Madison website erupted in July 2015, when a group of hackers known as "The Impact Team" breached the site's security and accessed its database. Ashley Madison, a website designed to facilitate extramarital affairs, had claimed to offer anonymity and security for its users. However, the hackers exposed the personal information of millions of users, including names, email addresses, sexual preferences, and credit card details. The disclosure led to widespread public embarrassment, with significant implications for the privacy and personal lives of affected individuals. Some users faced extortion attempts, while others had to deal with repercussions in their personal relationships and professional careers. The aftermath highlighted concerns about digital privacy and cybersecurity. The company behind Ashley Madison, Avid Life Media, faced intense scrutiny, lawsuits, and was forced to enhance its security measures and rebuild its reputation in the years that followed.