This week, hackers from a group calling itself Impact Team posted personal data they had stolen from users of the Ashley Madison dating site, which was set up to facilitate extramarital affairs.
While some of the data appeared to be from famous or public figures—some likely fake, others potentially genuine—the vast bulk of it relates to ordinary people, many of whom will now find their lives ruined. So will this most catastrophic of hacks make some people think twice about the amount of personal data they post online, or will it fail to make an impact?
Although hacks are increasingly common, there is something seismic and sinister about the Ashley Madison affair. Privacy is at the root of this whole sorry fiasco—the hackers claim their actions were partially motivated by the site’s apparent failure to entirely delete some users' details from its database, a service it was charging for. They leaked the private details of tens of millions of its 36m wannabe adulterers, just over a thousand of whom live in Saudi Arabia where homosexuality is a crime. Ruining people’s lives and reputations when it is categorically not in the public interest is a serious violation of personal privacy, which will leave its scars.
We have all learnt to trust the most private and intimate details of our daily lives to the internet, from our bank accounts to our friendships and sexual fantasies. While the hackers might have spoilt the fun of millions of cheating spouses, they have also cast doubt on the way we have learnt to live in the digital age. The question we should be all be asking is not "who is on the list?" But rather "who will be the next target of a vicious and criminal cyberattack?"
Ashley Madison is not the first high-profile data hack; and it will not be the last. By now, most of us understand the risks of living connected lives. The problem is, we don’t just store our details in the cloud; we now live the darkest parts of our lives there too.
But less than a third of us regularly use our web browser's private mode. Half of us are just not concerned about personal data leakage from apps. Most telling of all, half of us agree that no-one should ever be allowed anonymity when using the internet. We know about data security; we just don’t care all that much.
And Ashley Madison reinforces the Hacker’s vigilante image—that they only go after those who deserve it. In so many cases of data theft, after which we want to reassure ourselves it won’t happen to us, we reach for convenient myths: this latest saga lets us continue to believe in digital karma.
The Ashley Madison hack should change attitudes toward privacy, because I think for a long time many people have read about powerful executives and politicians being hacked and dismissed it with: "I have nothing to hide and I'm just a normal guy/girl. Who would want to hack into my data?"
As for people who do have something to hide, well, hopefully they have learned to use burner phones, pick a believable alias and always pay cash.
The next major terrorist attack in the UK will come via cyberspace. While industry experts have long been aware of the dangers, the general public still feel detached from internet security.
Ashley Madison was not the first data breach to occur but the consequence of dire embarrassment has captured our imagination. People need to realise that actions taken online are liable in real life. This will not be the last time it happens.
While some of the data appeared to be from famous or public figures—some likely fake, others potentially genuine—the vast bulk of it relates to ordinary people, many of whom will now find their lives ruined. So will this most catastrophic of hacks make some people think twice about the amount of personal data they post online, or will it fail to make an impact?
Seismic and sinister
Serena Kutchinsky—Digital Editor of ProspectAlthough hacks are increasingly common, there is something seismic and sinister about the Ashley Madison affair. Privacy is at the root of this whole sorry fiasco—the hackers claim their actions were partially motivated by the site’s apparent failure to entirely delete some users' details from its database, a service it was charging for. They leaked the private details of tens of millions of its 36m wannabe adulterers, just over a thousand of whom live in Saudi Arabia where homosexuality is a crime. Ruining people’s lives and reputations when it is categorically not in the public interest is a serious violation of personal privacy, which will leave its scars.
We have all learnt to trust the most private and intimate details of our daily lives to the internet, from our bank accounts to our friendships and sexual fantasies. While the hackers might have spoilt the fun of millions of cheating spouses, they have also cast doubt on the way we have learnt to live in the digital age. The question we should be all be asking is not "who is on the list?" But rather "who will be the next target of a vicious and criminal cyberattack?"
Digital karma
Will Seymour—Senior Analyst at Future FoundationAshley Madison is not the first high-profile data hack; and it will not be the last. By now, most of us understand the risks of living connected lives. The problem is, we don’t just store our details in the cloud; we now live the darkest parts of our lives there too.
But less than a third of us regularly use our web browser's private mode. Half of us are just not concerned about personal data leakage from apps. Most telling of all, half of us agree that no-one should ever be allowed anonymity when using the internet. We know about data security; we just don’t care all that much.
And Ashley Madison reinforces the Hacker’s vigilante image—that they only go after those who deserve it. In so many cases of data theft, after which we want to reassure ourselves it won’t happen to us, we reach for convenient myths: this latest saga lets us continue to believe in digital karma.
Nothing to hide?
Catherine Townsend—Writer and Private DetectiveThe Ashley Madison hack should change attitudes toward privacy, because I think for a long time many people have read about powerful executives and politicians being hacked and dismissed it with: "I have nothing to hide and I'm just a normal guy/girl. Who would want to hack into my data?"
As for people who do have something to hide, well, hopefully they have learned to use burner phones, pick a believable alias and always pay cash.
Real consequences
Jennifer Arcuri, working group lead of TLA CyberThe next major terrorist attack in the UK will come via cyberspace. While industry experts have long been aware of the dangers, the general public still feel detached from internet security.
Ashley Madison was not the first data breach to occur but the consequence of dire embarrassment has captured our imagination. People need to realise that actions taken online are liable in real life. This will not be the last time it happens.
