A new Netflix documentary, 'Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal', delves into the infamous 2015 data breach of the dating site designed for extramarital affairs. The three-part series explores the creation of the website, the hack that exposed millions of users' intimate data, and the aftermath for those involved.
In July 2015, a group calling itself 'The Impact Team' announced it had stolen data from Ashley Madison and threatened to release names and personal information unless the site shut down. Cathy, a former customer service representative, recalled in the documentary that a message appeared on a colleague's screen stating the group had taken over all systems and demanded immediate permanent closure.
Evan Back, former vice president of sales, described the hack as 'just crazy'. The site published three statements at the time, noting cooperation with law enforcement and vowing to hold those responsible accountable. In August, over 60 gigabytes of data were released, including personal details and information users had paid to delete.
The identity of the hackers remains unknown, though they are attributed to 'The Impact Team'. Noel Biderman, CEO at the time of the breach, stepped down shortly after and has since moved into cryptocurrency as CEO of Avenue Insights. The documentary streams now on Netflix.
