The social network for adulterers Ashley Madison , has been reported to have been hacked by an individual or group. The hackers started to post online the personal data of the site's users. The Ashley Madison website claims to have over 37 million users. he Impact Team - an individual or a group of hackers declared that they were responsible for the cyber attack.
The hacker's were able to steal Ashley Madison user's information as published, in response to alleged lies of Avid Life Media, the company informed their customers regarding a $19 fee for completely erasing their profiles, however the profiles weren't deleted. Avid Life Media or ALM is the company that owns Ashley Madison, and they also own the hookup sites Cougar Life and Established Men.
The hackers known as the Impact Team stated, "Users almost always pay with credit card; their purchase details are not removed as promised, and include real name and address, which is of course the most important information the users want removed."
The Impact Team demanded, "Avid Life Media has been instructed to take Ashley Madison and Established Men offline permanently in all forms, or we will release all customer records, including profiles with all the customers' secret sexual fantasies and matching credit card transactions, real names and addresses, and employee documents and emails. The other websites may stay online."
It is still not clear how many Ashley Madison user account data has been posted by the hackers online however the Impact Team hackers said they are going to post more if the Ashley Madison site will remain online.
The Toronto-based Ashley Madison company, that specializes in matchmaking married people, apologized to their users where a representative of the Ashley Madison company stated, "this unprovoked and criminal intrusion into our customer's information." and also added in the statement, "At this time, we have been able to secure our sites, and close the unauthorized access points. We are working with law enforcement agencies, which are investigating this criminal act. Any and all parties responsible for this act of cyber - terrorism will be held responsible."
