The CEO of adultery website Ashley Madison is stepping down in the wake of the massive breach of the company’s computer systems and outing of millions of its members.
Advertisement
“This change is in the best interest of the company and allows us to continue to provide support to our members and dedicated employees, We are steadfast in our commitment to our customer base” the Toronto-based company said in a statement.
The release of files came a month after the data was stolen by hackers identified as the ‘Impact Team, ‘ who said they were trying to shut down the site which uses the slogan, “Life is short”.
As a result of Biderman’s exit from Avid Life Media, the company’s existing senior management team would take over the reins of the company till a new CEO is appointed.
A second data dump by the hackers released thousands of Biderman’s emails and other company documents.
“We are actively cooperating with worldwide law enforcement in an effort to bring those responsible for the theft of proprietary member and business information to justice”, the company said.
The breaches highlight how hackers not only can blow through a firm’s security, the modern foundation of consumer trust, but also threaten enterprises built on discretion – and abruptly end high-powered careers. Privacy watchdogs in Canada and Australia are jointly investigating the leak.
Celebrity casualties include Josh Duggar, the 27-year-old star of a Christian family reality TV show who has blown almost $1,000 on two Ashley Madison accounts since February 2013.
Krebs has posted new information on the hack, including a possible lead: a Twitter user (or, as Krebs speculates, users) called Thadeus Zu posted a link to the hack before anyone else and appears to have had special knowledge of the data breach before anyone else did.
In an April 2015 letter addressed to all its investors, closely-held Avid Life acknowledged that some investors had pressed it to improve liquidity so they could sell shares. But his downfall has attracted nearly as much media attention because of the audacious claims he had made about the benefits of extramarital affairs – as well as the salacious details that spilled out of the hack.
Avid Life did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Advertisement
In turn it is being sued by a disabled Canadian widower who says he joined Ashley Madison “in search of companionship” after losing his wife of 30 years to breast cancer.
