Ashley Madison, a social networking website for adults has been hacked by a group who identified themselves as The Impact Team, who are now posting user’s personal details, according to Krebs on Security.
The site claims that it has more than 37 million users and the company is working to take down leaked data which includes users personal details such as their sex, name and transaction details.
In a manifesto posted along with the stolen data, the team decided to publish the leaked data in response to alleged lies Avid Life Media (ALM, the company which runs Ashely Madison and other websites like Established Men and Cougar Life) told its customers about a $19 fee for completely erasing their user details.
The hackers said
“Full Delete netted ALM $1.7mm in revenue in 2014. It’s also a complete lie. 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.”
They demanded ALM to shut down Ashley Madison and Established Men permanently.
“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.”
ALM CEO Noel Biderman said the company is investigating the breach and he also added that breach was done by someone who has inside access to its networks.
“We’re on the doorstep of [confirming] who we believe is the culprit, and unfortunately that may have triggered this mass publication. I’ve got their profile right in front of me, all their work credentials. It was definitely a person here that was not an employee but certainly had touched our technical services.”
The hack took place in less than two months after AdultFriendFinder was hacked.