It’s also important to note that Ashley Madison users aren’t required to verify their email addresses, meaning some found in the dump may have been hijacked by Ashley Madison users seeking to keep their own email addresses off their accounts.
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They claimed to have accessed the dating site’s database containing records of its users.
The release comes about a month after the data was stolen by hackers identified as the “Impact Team”, who allegedly tried to shut the site for cheaters down “immediately permanently”.
It hasn’t been and on Tuesday the leak began. Avid Life Media, the owners of Ashley Madison, did not require the data for users be valid unless it was a paid account, according to the blog.
The more than 10GB data leak was offered for download via torrenting websites.
However, it is unclear if members provided legitimate details as it is possible to create an Ashley Madison account using someone else’s name and email. “Have an affair.” However, some 37 million users of the hookup might get sorry for ever registering, since the still-unfolding leak could be now quite damaging for their reputation, professional career and marriage.
The hackers demanded that Ashley Madison and its sister site Established Men be taken down, but the company refused.
Melbourne was ranked sixth, Brisbane 14th and Perth 22nd.
The hacker group, Impact Team, made good on a threat to post the information online by releasing the data on Wednesday to the dark web, which operates below the public internet and is only accessible through a special browser.
It is not known if the hackers came into possession of the credit card numbers and payments but they disclosed a full list of users, among which are some VIP persons and world leaders such as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
“We are getting an even number of men who were using Ashley Madison coming to us to do damage assessment as we are spouses who suspect they are being cheated on.” “Then move on with your life”, Impact Team said.
Avid Life Media condemned the breach in a statement to WIRED.
The statement added, “This event is not an act of hacktivism, it is an act of criminality”.
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“The criminal, or criminals, involved in this act have appointed themselves as the moral judge, juror, and executioner”, the company said.
