Not So Secret, After All: Ashley Madison Hack Reminds Users That There's No Such Thing As Privacy Online Ashley Madison, the now-beleaguered online dating portal for people already in committed relationships, has now become the world's most famous un-kept secret.

By Tamara Clarke Edited by Aby Sam Thomas

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

Ashley Madison, the now-beleaguered online dating portal for people already in committed relationships, has now become the world's most famous un-kept secret. The site, whose tagline is "Life's short, have an affair," was recently hacked, exposing private data belonging to millions of its users. The news reports of the size of the hack vary from 30 million users to 37 million users, and at the time of writing, class-action lawsuits against the parent company behind AshleyMadison.com had also been filed. The hack has been attributed to competitors, "the morality police," and there's even speculation of an internal leak. Regardless of how it happened, Internet users should beware: whether you're shopping online for a used car or a tryst with someone else's spouse, your digital footprint is not private and never truly safe.

Tamara Clarke

Columnist

Tamara Clarke, a former software development professional, is the tech and lifestyle enthusiast behind The Global Gazette, one of the most active blogs in the Middle East. The Global Gazette has been welcomed and lauded by some of the most influential tech brands in the region. Clarke’s goal is to inform about technology and how it supports our lifestyles. See her work both in print regional publications and online on her blog where she discusses everything from how a new gadget improves day-to-day life to how to coordinate your smartphone accessories. Visit www.theglobalgazette.com and talk to her on Twitter @TamaraClarke. #TamTalksTech 
Growth Strategies

Alabbar Once Removed All Job Titles at Emaar. Did it Work?

"When you reach the end of this email, you will notice something different. I have no job title. And from this moment onwards, nor do you," Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar wrote in an email to all Emaar staff.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Over 1,300 Google Employees Have Signed a New Petition Asking For Job Security

Google laid off thousands of employees in the past two years, which has left some employees feeling insecure about keeping their jobs.

Technology

Dubai Announces Launch of World's First Ever Crypto Tower

New 17 storey project to be built in Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) in Dubai.

Side Hustle

This 29-Year-Old Quit Working 12-Hour Overnight Shifts Because Her Side Hustle Brings In Up to $8,000 a Month: 'It Makes Me Happy'

Breanna Meertins picked up a fun hobby in her free time — then learned about an opportunity that would change everything.