TORONTO, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Hackers have followed through on
a threat to release online a huge cache of data, including
customer information, that was stolen a month ago from cheating
spouses website AshleyMadison.com, several tech websites
reported on Tuesday.
Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the authenticity
of the posting. The data was posted onto the dark web, meaning
it is only accessible using a specialized browser, although
lists of email addresses have since sprouted up on other sites.
A group calling itself Impact Team had leaked snippets of
the compromised data in July and threatened to publish names and
salacious details about clients unless Ashley Madison and
EstablishedMen.com, another site owned by Toronto-based parent
company Avid Life Media, were taken down.
Tech website Wired said 9.7 gigabytes of data was posted,
and appeared to include member account and credit card details.
"Avid Life Media has failed to take down Ashley Madison and
Established Men," Wired quoted Impact Team as saying in a
statement accompanying the online dump.
"We have explained the fraud, deceit, and stupidity of ALM
(Avid Life Media) and their members. Now everyone gets to see
their data," the hackers said, according to Wired.
Avid Life, which uses the slogan "Life is short. Have an
affair", did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls
seeking comment.