{{Infobox website
| name           =
| logo           = Ashley Madison logo.jpg
| url            = [https://www.ashleymadison.com/ AshleyMadison.com]
| commercial     = Yes
| type           = [[Online dating service]]<br>[[Social network service]]
| language       = Chinese (simplified and traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Filipino, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian and European), Russian, Slovenian, Spanish (European, American), Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian
| registration   = Yes
| owner          = [[Noel Biderman|Avid Life Media]]
| key_people     = [[Noel Biderman]]
| slogan         = Life is short. Have an affair.
| launch date    = 2001<ref name=beginning>{{cite web| last=Pearson| first=Patricia | url= http://www.torontolife.com/features/two-timers-club/?pageno=2 |title= The Two-Timers Club | work= Toronto Life| accessdate= 2009-01-21| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090121132848/http://www.torontolife.com/features/two-timers-club/?pageno=2 | archivedate= 21 January 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
| current status = Active
| num_users      = More than 37 million ({{as of|2015|7|lc=y}})<ref name=mypapersg/>
| revenue        =
| alexa          = 2,430 ({{as of|2016|3|14|alt=March 2016}})<ref name="alexa">{{cite web|url= http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/ashleymadison.com |title= AshleyMadison.com Site Info | publisher= [[Alexa Internet]] |accessdate=March 14, 2016 }}</ref>
}}

'''Ashley Madison''', or '''The Ashley Madison Agency''', is a [[Canada]]-based [[online dating service]] and [[social networking service]] marketed to people who are married or in a committed [[Intimate relationship|relationship]]. The Ashley Madison Agency is the world's largest online Social Networking Community of its kind that caters to people who are already in relationships but still want to date.<ref name="prnewswire.com"/> It was founded in 2002 by Darren Morgenstern.<ref name="prnewswire.com">{{Cite web|title = Hollywood Courts Toronto-based Ashley Madison|url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hollywood-courts-toronto-based-ashley-madison-75587257.html|website = www.prnewswire.com|accessdate = 2015-10-24}}</ref>

Its slogan is "Life is short. Have an [[affair]]."<ref name="prnewswire.com"/><ref name="latime">{{cite web| last=Daum| first=Meghan| date=2001-01-10 |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum10-2009jan10,0,7649415.column|title= Ashley Madison's secret success| work= [[Los Angeles Times]]| accessdate= 2010-01-06| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100215103316/http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-daum10-2009jan10,0,7649415.column| archivedate= 15 February 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>  The name of the site was created from two [[List of most popular given names|popular female names]], "[[Ashley (name)|Ashley]]" and "[[Madison (name)|Madison]]".<ref name="latime" />

The company received  attention on July 15, 2015, after [[hacker (computer security)|hackers]] [[Ashley Madison data breach|stole all of its customer data]]—including emails, names, home addresses, sexual fantasies and credit card information—and threatened to post all the data online if Ashley Madison and fellow Avid Life Media site EstablishedMen.com were not permanently closed. By July 22, the first names of customers were released by hackers,<ref name="cbs72215">{{cite news|title=Hackers expose first Ashley Madison users|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hackers-expose-first-ashley-madison-users/|accessdate=July 23, 2015|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=July 22, 2015}}</ref> with all of the user data released on August 18, 2015. More data (including some of the CEO's emails) was released on August 20, 2015. The release included data from customers who had earlier paid a $19 fee to Ashley Madison to allegedly have their data deleted.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/2015/08/happened-hackers-posted-stolen-ashley-madison-data/?mbid=social_twitter Hackers Finally Post Stolen Ashley Madison Data], wired, 2015-08-18.</ref> The fee was also applied to people who had accounts set up against their will, as a workplace [[prank]], or because of a mistyped email address.<ref name=firstlook>{{cite web|url=https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/21/ashley-madison-breach-why-am-i-getting-their-emails/|title=Some Dude Created an Ashley Madison Account Linked to My Gmail, and All I Got Was This Lousy Extortion Screen|work=The Intercept|accessdate=24 August 2015}}</ref>

On August 28, 2015, [[Noel Biderman]] agreed to step down as chief executive officer of Avid Life Media Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ashley Madison CEO Noel Biderman resigns after third leak of emails|url = http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/28/ashley-madison-neil-biderman-stepping-down|website = the Guardian|accessdate = 2015-10-26|first = Sam Thielman in New|last = York}}</ref> A statement released by the firm said his departure was "in the best interest of the company".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/34090372|title=Ashley Madison founder steps down|publisher=BBC News|date=28 August 2015}}</ref>
{{toclimit|3}}

==Membership==
Ashley Madison is a membership website and service based in [[Canada]]; its membership includes 39 million people in 53 countries.<ref name="cbs72215"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Location !! Countries
|-
| North America || Canada, USA,<ref name=dwreview>{{cite web |url= http://datingwebsitesreview.net/ashley-madison/ |title=Ashley Madison |publisher= DatingWebsitesReview.net |accessdate=2013-10-24}}</ref> Mexico<ref>{{cite news|agency=Reuters |url=http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/06/06/12090303-mexican-presidential-candidate-becomes-poster-boy-for-infidelity |title=Mexican presidential candidate becomes poster boy for infidelity |publisher=[[NBC News]]|date= June 6, 2012 |accessdate=2013-10-24}}</ref>
|-
| South America || Argentina,<ref name="dwreview">{{cite web |url= https://www.ashleymadison.com/ |title=Ashley Madison |publisher= ashleymadison.com |accessdate=2015-08-21}}</ref> Brazil,<ref name="dwreview"/> Chile,<ref name="dwreview"/> Colombia,<ref name="dwreview"/> Peru,<ref name="dwreview"/> Venezuela<ref name="dwreview"/>
|-
| Western Europe|| United Kingdom,<ref name=dwreview/> Ireland,<ref>{{cite web|date =11 October 2010 |url=http://www.independent.ie/woman/love-sex/i-got-married-three-months-ago-then-last-month-i-logged-on-to-an-infidelity-website-26688745.html |title=I got married three months ago. Then last month, I logged on to an infidelity website |work=[[The Irish Independent]]  |accessdate=2013-10-24}}</ref> Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Malta, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Finland, Norway,<ref name=dwreview/> Luxembourg<ref name="dwreview"/>
|-
| Eastern Europe and Central Asia|| Latvia,<ref name="dwreview"/> Slovakia,<ref name="dwreview"/> Poland,<ref name="dwreview"/> Hungary,<ref name="dwreview"/> Estonia,<ref name="dwreview"/> Czech Republic,<ref name="dwreview"/> Russia,<ref name="dwreview"/> Crimea,<ref name="dwreview"/> Ukraine,<ref name="dwreview"/> Belarus,<ref name="dwreview"/> Kazakhstan<ref name="dwreview"/>
|-
| Oceania|| Australia,<ref>{{cite web|first=Georgina|last= Robinson |url=http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/life-style/nutrition-and-wellbeing/aussie-women-embrace-cheaters-website-20100413-s4x1.html |title=Ashley Madison site launches in Australia|publisher=EssentialBaby.com.au |date=2010-04-13 |accessdate=2013-10-24}}</ref> New Zealand<ref name=dwreview/>
|-
| Subsaharan Africa|| South Africa<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/lifestyle/2012/08/04/there-is-no-typical-sa-cheater-ashleymadison |title=There is no typical SA cheater |publisher=Times LIVE |date=2012-08-04 |accessdate=2013-10-24}}</ref>
|-
| East and Southeast Asia|| Hong Kong,<ref name=mypapersg/> Macau,<ref name="dwreview"/> China,<ref name="dwreview"/> Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand,<ref name="dwreview"/> Singapore,<ref name="dwreview"/>
|-
| South Asia|| India, Pakistan<ref name="dwreview"/>
|-
| Middle East and North Africa|| Israel,<ref name="dwreview"/>
|}

The company announced plans to launch in [[Singapore]] in 2014.<ref name=mypapersg>{{cite web| title= Business of ruining marriages | url= http://mypaper.sg/news/business-ruining-marriages-20131023| first= Jacqueline |last= Woo | date= October 23, 2013| work= [[My Paper]]| accessdate=2013-10-24 |quote= The dating website that facilitates extramarital affairs between married individuals plans for a launch in Singapore next year, My Paper understands.  The Canada-based website has over 21 million users worldwide. Its slogan: "Life is short. Have an affair."  Ashley Madison has already expanded to other Asian countries and territories such as Japan, and, more recently, Hong Kong in August.}}</ref> However, Singapore's Media Development Authority (MDA) announced that it will not allow Ashley Madison to operate in Singapore as "it promotes adultery and disregards family values".<ref name=ChannelNewsAsia>{{cite web| title = MDA will block access to Ashley Madison website | url= http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/mda-will-block-access-to/879898.html?cid=FBSG| date= November 8, 2013| publisher= [[Channel NewsAsia]]}}</ref>

==Business model==
Unlike [[Match.com]] or [[eHarmony]], Ashley Madison's business model is based on credits rather than monthly subscriptions. For a conversation between two members, one of the members—almost always the man—must pay five credits to initiate the conversation. Any follow-up messages between the two members are free after the communication has been initiated. Ashley Madison also has a real-time chat feature that is metered. Credits are utilised to pay for a certain time allotment of chat.

The site allows users to hide their account profiles for free. Users looking to delete their accounts, even those made without the individual's consent, are charged a $19 fee.<ref name="firstlook" /><ref name="AshleyMadison">{{cite web|url = https://www.ashleymadison.com/app/public/tandc.p?c=3|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20150722170716/https://www.ashleymadison.com/app/public/tandc.p?c=3|title = Ashley Madison Terms _Conditions|publisher = Ashley Madison|date = 2013-10-21|accessdate = 2015-08-25|archivedate = 2015-07-22}}</ref> The "full delete" option claims to remove user profiles, all messages sent and received, site usage history, personally identifiable information, and photos.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ashley Madison's $19 'full delete' option made the company millions|url=http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/19/9178479/ashley-madison-full-delete-made-millions|accessdate=August 24, 2015}}</ref> The data disclosures in 2015 revealed that this "permanent deletion" feature did not permanently delete anything, and all data was recoverable.

==Criticism==
Trish McDermott, a consultant who helped found Match.com, accused Ashley Madison of being a "business built on the back of broken hearts, ruined marriages, and damaged families". Biderman responded by stating that the site is "just a platform" and a website or a commercial will not convince anyone to commit [[adultery]].<ref name=latime/><ref name=timemag>{{cite news| last=Caplan | first=Jeremy | date=2008-06-28|url=http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1907542,00.html |title= Cheating 2.0: New Mobile Apps Make Adultery Easier| work= [[Time (magazine)|Time]]| accessdate= 2010-01-06}}</ref> According to Biderman, affairs help preserve many marriages.<ref name="e27">{{cite web| title=11 titillating minutes with Ashley Madison renders me impressed | url=http://e27.co/11-titillating-minutes-with-ashley-madison-renders-me-impressed| first=Elaine |last=Huang | date= November 25, 2013| work=[[e27 (blog)|e27]] |access-date=2014-02-04 }}</ref>

===Guarantee===
Ashley Madison offers a guarantee that you will "find someone": "we GUARANTEE that you will successfully find what you’re looking for or we'll give you your money back"<ref>"Is Ashley Madison a scam? Is Ashley Madison a fraud?" https://www.ashleymadison.com/articles/ashley-madison-scam.html, retrieved 2014-08-17</ref> In order to qualify, users must  purchase the most expensive package, send more expensive "priority" messages to 18 unique members each month for three months, send 5 Ashley Madison gifts per month, and engage in 60 minutes of paid chat per month.<ref>https://www.ashleymadison.com/app/private/detailsform.p?#rules</ref> Compounding the problem is that "more men than women use the service, with the disparity increasing as they advance in age", and "Men seek sex, while women seek passion."<ref>Niv Elis, "Cheating on your spouse in Israel just got easier", "Jerusalem Post", May 22, 2014, http://www.jpost.com/Business/Business-News/Cheating-on-your-spouse-in-Israel-just-got-easier-353123</ref> A page on Ashley Madison, entitled "Is Ashley Madison a scam? Is Ashley Madison a fraud?" addressed some of these issues in an attempt to win over prospective customers and teach them best practices for using the site.<ref>{{cite web|title=Is Ashley Madison a scam? Is Ashley Madison a fraud? |url=https://www.ashleymadison.com/articles/ashley-madison-scam.html |website=Ashley Madison |accessdate=August 17, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907075203/https://www.ashleymadison.com/articles/ashley-madison-scam.html |archivedate=September 7, 2015 |deadurl=unfit }}</ref>

===Fake female accounts===
According to [[Annalee Newitz]], Editor-in-Chief of [[Gizmodo]], who has analyzed the 2015 leaked data,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gizmodo.com/the-fembots-of-ashley-madison-1726670394 |title=The FemBots of Ashley Madison |publisher=[[Gizmodo]] |last=Newitz|first=Annalee|date=27 August 2015 |accessdate=28 August 2015}}</ref> Ashley Madison had over 70,000 [[chatterbot|bots]] sending fake female messages to male users. She had previously released an analysis purporting to show that only a minuscule proportion (12,000 out of 5.5 million) registered female accounts were used on a regular basis,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mason|first1=Pelt|title=Ashley Madison “the most interesting hack” says John McAfee|url=http://siliconangle.com/blog/2015/11/09/ashley-madison-the-most-interesting-hack-says-john-mcafee/|website=siliconangle.com|publisher=SiliconANGLE|accessdate=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=reed/><ref name=reed>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/most-hilarious-revelation-ashley-madison-hack-yet-031557791.html |title=The most hilarious revelation about the Ashley Madison hack yet |publisher=[[Yahoo! Tech]] |last=Reed|first=Brad|date=27 August 2015 |accessdate=28 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=gallagher>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/ashley-madison-hack-just-three-in-every-10000-female-accounts-on-infidelity-website-are-real-10475310.html|title=Ashley Madison hack: Just three in every 10,000 female accounts on infidelity website are real|work=[[The Independent]]|last=Gallagher|first=Paul|date=27 August 2015}}</ref> but she has subsequently disavowed this analysis, saying that from the data released there is no way of determining how many women actually used the service.<ref>Annalee Newitz, "Ashley Madison Code Shows More Women, and More Bots", ''Gizmodo'', August 31, 2015, http://gizmodo.com/ashley-madison-code-shows-more-women-and-more-bots-1727613924, retrieved September 12, 2015.</ref>

Newitz noted a clause in the terms of service which states that some accounts are for amusement purposes only. She says Ashley Madison does not go so far as to say they are fake, but "does admit that many profiles are for 'amusement only' ".<ref name=gallagher/>

In 2012, a former employee claimed in a lawsuit that she was requested to create thousands of fake female accounts attractive to male customers, resulting in repetitive stress injury.  The case settled out of court.<ref name=gallagher/>

===Advertising===
Ashley Madison employs [[guerrilla marketing]] techniques to advertise its site. One such technique has been the creation of fake criticism websites filled with ads for Ashley Madison and anonymous testimony that the site is legitimate. For example, the site "www.AshleyMadisonScams.com" is registered to Ashley Madison owner Avid Life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2011/02/11/ashley-madison-lessons-in-promoting-a-sleazy-business/ |title=Ashley Madison: Lessons In Promoting a Sleazy Business |date=February 12, 2011 |first=Kashmir |last=Hill |publisher=''[[Forbes]]'' }}</ref>

Ashley Madison advertises with [[TV commercial]]s, [[billboard]]s, and radio ads by the CEO, [[Noel Biderman]].<ref name=latime/> TV ads, described as cringe-worthy,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/australian-ad-standards-board-upholds-complaints-about-ashley-madison-ad-2015-3|title=Here's the cringe-worthy ad for affair site Ashley Madison that was pulled for 'vilifying women'|author=Lara O'Reilly|work=Business Insider Australia}}</ref> have been pulled from the air in some countries after frequent complaints.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/tv-ad-for-infidelity-dating-website-ashley-madison-pulled-from-air-27251|title=TV ad for infidelity dating website Ashley Madison pulled from air|work=mUmBRELLA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/ashley-madison-ad-degrading-to-wives-rules-ad-standards-board-279894|title=Ashley Madison ad degrading to wives, rules Ad Standards Board|work=mUmBRELLA}}</ref> Some proposals turned down by the companies approached include a €1.5 million jersey sponsorship deal with [[Lega Basket Serie A|Italian]] [[basketball]] club [[Pallacanestro Virtus Roma|Virtus Roma]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ballineurope.com/us-basketball/nba/andrea-bargnani-denies-virtus-roma-ashley-madison-rumors-5505/#more-10260 |title=Andrea Bargnani: Don't Believe the Hype About Virtus Roma, Ashley Madison, and Me |publisher=BallInEurope.com |date=2011-11-20 |accessdate=2011-10-21}}</ref> a $10 million offer to rename Phoenix's [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Sky Harbor Airport]]<ref>{{Cite news | last = Wong | first = Scott | title = Phoenix rejects $10M offer from infidelity Web site | work = The Arizona Republic | date = 2010-02-22 | url = http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PHXBeat/74536 | accessdate = 2010-03-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Fisher | first = Katie | title = Risque website offers $10 million for Sky Harbor name change | publisher = ABC15  | date = 2010-02-23 | url = http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/central/story/Risque-website-offers-10-million-for-Sky-Harbor/z4uPlkToaEy6HGHAl2IqOQ.cspx |accessdate = 2010-03-03| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100225054012/http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/central/story/Risque-website-offers-10-million-for-Sky-Harbor/z4uPlkToaEy6HGHAl2IqOQ.cspx| archivedate= 25 February 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> and an offer for the [[naming rights]] of [[MetLife Stadium|New Meadowlands Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2010/06/09/nfl-new-york-jets-new-york-giants-stadium-meadowlands-ashley-madison-cheaters-adultery-website/ |title=NFL Stadium Offered $25M to Promote Adultery |publisher=TMZ.com |date=2010-05-30 |accessdate=2010-09-23| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100811083622/http://www.tmz.com/2010/06/09/nfl-new-york-jets-new-york-giants-stadium-meadowlands-ashley-madison-cheaters-adultery-website/| archivedate= 11 August 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

A statement denouncing proposed ads was made in 2009 when Ashley Madison attempted to purchase [[C$]]200,000 worth of advertising from the [[Toronto Transit Commission]] (TTC) on the [[Toronto streetcar system]].<ref name=toro>{{cite web| last=Peat | first=Don | date=2009-12-11 |url=http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/12/11/12122821.html|title= TTC dumps Ashley Madison| work= [[Toronto Sun]]| accessdate= 2010-01-06}}</ref> With five of six committee members voting against it, the commissioner stated "When it's a core fundamental value around cheating or lying, we’re not going to let those kinds of ads go on."<ref name=bnet>{{cite web| last= Edwards | first=Jim | date=2009-12-16|url=http://industry.bnet.com/advertising/10005030/no-streetcars-named-desire-toronto-bans-adultery-ads-on-public-transit/|title= No Streetcars Named Desire: Toronto Bans Adultery Ads on Public Transit| publisher= bnet.com| accessdate= 2010-01-06}}</ref> Biderman offered to subsidize the TTC fare rate to $2.50 from $2.75 but the offer was declined.

Also in 2009, [[NBC]] refused an ad submitted by Ashley Madison for the network's broadcast of [[Super Bowl XLIII]].<ref name=nydailynews>{{cite web| last=Hill| first=Catey | date= 2009-01-29|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/01/28/2009-01-28_banned_these_ads_are_too_racy_for_the_su-1.html |title= Banned! These ads are too racy for the Super Bowl| work= [[The New York Daily News]]| accessdate= 2010-01-06}}</ref>

==Lawsuits==
In 2012, the company was sued by former employee Doriana Silva, who stated that in preparation for the launch of the company's Portuguese-language website, she was assigned to create over a thousand bogus member profiles within a three-week period in order to attract paying customers, and that this caused her to develop [[repetitive stress injury]]. The lawsuit claimed that as a result Silva "developed severe pain in her wrists and forearms", and has been unable to work since 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.citynews.ca/2013/11/10/woman-hurt-typing-fake-profiles-for-dating-site-20m-suit-alleges|title=Woman hurt typing fake profiles for dating site, $20M suit alleges|work= [[CityNews]]|author= Paola Loriggio|date= November 10, 2013|accessdate=April 13, 2013}}</ref> Ashley Madison countersued, alleging fraud. The company claimed that Silva had been photographed skiing, an activity that was unlikely for someone who had suffered serious injury to the hands and forearms.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ashley-madison-strikes-back-against-plaintiff-2013-11 |title=Ashley Madison Says Woman Who Alleges She Hurt Her Wrists Writing Fake Profiles Later Rode A Jet Ski|work= [[Business Insider]]|author= Jim Edwards|date=November 11, 2013|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref> Ashley Madison later alleged further that Silva had kept confidential documents and sought to retrieve them.

In 2015, the Ontario Superior Court dismissed the case without costs, a result with which Avi Weisman, vice-president and general counsel for Avid Life Media, said the company was "very pleased".<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lawsuit-against-dating-site-for-married-people-seeking-affairs-dismissed/article22511386/ Lawsuit against dating site for married people seeking affairs dismissed], at The Globe And Mail; published 18 Jan 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015</ref>

In August 2015, after its customer records were [[Ashley Madison data breach|leaked by hackers]], a $576 million class-action lawsuit was filed against the company.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34032760 Ashley Madison faces huge class-action lawsuit - 23 August 2015]</ref>

==Data breach==
{{main|Ashley Madison data breach}}
On July 15, 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/07/online-cheating-site-ashleymadison-hacked/ |title=Online Cheating Site AshleyMadison Hacked |publisher=krebsonsecurity.com |date=2015-07-15 |accessdate=2015-07-20}}</ref> the site was hacked by a group known as "The Impact Team". Claiming that the security had always been weak, the hackers claimed to have stolen personal information about the site's user base, and threatened to release names, home addresses, search histories and credit card numbers if the site was not immediately shut down. The demand was driven by the site's policy of not deleting users' personal information following their invoiced requests.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/cheating-affair-website-ashley-madison-hacked-user-data-leaked-2015-7 | title=Extramarital affair website Ashley Madison has been hacked and attackers are threatening to leak data online | work=Business Insider | date=20 Jul 2015 | accessdate=21 Jul 2015 | author=Thomsen,Simon}}</ref>

The first release, validated by experts, occurred on August 18.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/19/ashley-madisons-hacked-customer-files-posted-online-as-threatened-say-reports|title=Ashley Madison condemns attack as experts say hacked database is real|date=19 August 2015|work=The Guardian|accessdate=19 August 2015}}</ref> Another release was made on August 20, but a 13 GB file — which allegedly contained the emails of Avid Life Media CEO Noel Biderman — was corrupted.<ref>{{cite web|author=August 21, 2015 12:59 pm |url=http://www.techworm.net/2015/08/hackers-leak-second-trove-of-ashley-madison-hack-20-gigs-this-time.html |title=Hackers leak second trove of Ashley Madison hack, 20 Gigs this time |publisher=Techworm.net |date= |accessdate=2015-08-23}}</ref> This was corrected on August 21, when the Impact Team dumped Biderman's emails in a separate 19 GB file.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/hackers-just-posted-a-third-dump-of-alleged-ashley-madison-data|title=Hackers Just Posted a Third Dump of Alleged Ashley Madison Data|date=21 August 2015|work=Motherboard|accessdate=21 August 2015}}</ref>

Some users reported receiving extortion emails<ref name="users-extortion">{{cite web|last=Segall |first=Laurie |url=http://money.cnn.com/2015/08/21/technology/ashley-madison-users-extorted/ |title=Ashley Madison users now facing extortion - Aug. 21, 2015 |publisher=Money.cnn.com |date=2015-01-08 |accessdate=2015-08-23}}</ref> requesting 1.05 in [[bitcoins]] (exactly [[C$]]300) to prevent the information from being shared with the user's significant other.<ref>{{cite news|title=@TorontoPolice News Conference Re: Ashley Madison Website Hack|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYFOjqeYr1U&feature=youtu.be|publisher=Toronto Police |date=2015-08-24 |accessdate=2015-08-24}}</ref> Clinical psychologists argued that dealing with an affair in a particularly public way increases the hurt for spouses and children.<ref name=gregoire>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ashley-madison-hack-psychological-fallout_55d4afcee4b07addcb44f5d4|title=Ashley Madison Hack Could Have A Devastating Psychological Fallout|last=Gregoire|first=Carolyn|date=20 August 2015|work=The Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://grahamcluley.com/2015/07/ashley-madison-attack-thoughts-aftermath/|title=The Ashley Madison hack - further thoughts on its aftermath|work=Graham Cluley}}</ref> On August 24 the Toronto Police Department spoke of "two unconfirmed reports of suicides" associated with the leak of customer profiles along with extortion attempts, offering a $500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the hackers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34044506|date=24 August 2015|title=Ashley Madison: 'Suicides' over website hack|work=BBC|accessdate=21 August 2015}}</ref> At least one suicide previously linked to Ashley Madison has since been reported as being due to "stress entirely related to issues at work that had no connection to the data leak".<ref>{{cite web|first=Jacob|last=Beltran|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Widow-addresses-suicide-of-SAPD-captain-linked-to-6465568.php|title=Widow addresses suicide of SAPD captain linked to Ashley Madison site|publisher=San Antonio Express News|date=2015-08-25|accessdate=2015-08-27}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Sex.com]]
* [[Comparison of online dating websites]]
* [[Illicit Encounters]], a similar UK online dating website for married people

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.ashleymadison.com/ Official website]

[[Category:2001 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian websites]]
[[Category:Companies based in Toronto]]
[[Category:Online dating services]]
[[Category:Virtual communities]]
[[Category:Sexual fidelity]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2001]]