When did the Ashley Madison scandal occur?

The Ashley Madison scandal broke in July 2015 when a group of hackers known as "Impact Team" infiltrated the systems of the Ashley Madison website, which is owned by Avid Life Media. The website, known for facilitating extramarital affairs, had its user data compromised, including personal details and information about users' preferences and usage of the site. In August 2015, after issuing an ultimatum to shut down the site, the hackers released more than 25 gigabytes of company data, including user details. This event caused a significant public uproar and had severe consequences for many users, whose private lives were suddenly thrust into the spotlight. The breach also prompted discussions about internet security, privacy, and the moral implications of the service provided by Ashley Madison.