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Ashley Madison is a Canadian-French online dating service that was launched in 2002 and marketed to people who are married or in relationships and looking for affairs. The website's slogan is Life is short. Have an affair. The company gained notoriety in 2015 when it was subject to a data breach, and the personal information of millions of users was released to the public. The breach also revealed that the company had exaggerated the size of its user base by creating fake accounts. Ashley Madison has received numerous negative reviews, with many users reporting fake profiles, scammers, and a lack of anonymity. However, some users have found it to be a good platform for discreet connections. In Australia, there are alternative platforms such as Sasha7 that offer a more transparent and honest pricing model.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Target Audience | People who are married (or in relationships) looking for affairs |
| Slogan | "Life is short. Have an affair." |
| Business Model | Credits instead of monthly subscriptions |
| Cost | Men have to pay for everything |
| User Experience | Fake profiles, scammers, bots, prostitutes, sugar babies, etc. |
| Safety | Data breach in 2015 |
| Rating | 1.2/5 on Trustpilot |
| Alternative | Sasha7 |
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What You'll Learn
Ashley Madison Australia reviews
Ashley Madison is a dating service that made headlines in Australia in 2015 for being a "cheating" website. The site has taken extra security measures to protect its users since its data breach that year.
Reviews of the service are mixed. On ProductReview.com.au, Ashley Madison has a rating of 1.2 out of 5 stars from 118 reviews. Many of the reviews on this site call the service a "scam", claiming that it is full of fake profiles and bots, and that it is designed to waste users' time and money. One user claims that they didn't find a single profile which is real. Another says that the site is designed to keep users spending money on coins while delivering no real value.
However, some reviews are more positive. One user on ProductReview.com.au says that they have been on and off the site for 16 years and suspects that the site intervenes in determining what messages are delivered depending on the member's payment plan. They also say that Ashley Madison is so governed by money at the expense of fair play and ethics. Another user says that they have been using the site for 7 years and found it to be very good, as long as you are careful.
A review on DatingScout.com.au states that Ashley Madison is the "perfect dating site for people looking for discreet extramarital relationships". The review also mentions that the site is free for women seeking men, but that men must purchase credits to communicate with others and use most of the site's features.
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Ashley Madison's business model
Ashley Madison is an online dating website for married people that gained notoriety in 2015 when it was subject to a data breach, exposing the personal information of millions of users. The company was criticised for being a "business built on the back of broken hearts, ruined marriages, and damaged families".
The website's business model is based on credits rather than monthly subscriptions. Members, always the man, must pay eight credits to initiate a conversation with another member. Ashley Madison also has a real-time chat feature where credits buy a certain time allotment. The site allows users to hide their account profiles for free, but charges a $19 fee to delete an account.
Ashley Madison's parent company, Avid Life Media, has stated that the site is just a platform and that a website or commercial will not convince anyone to commit adultery. However, critics argue that the company's business model is designed to exploit vulnerable individuals, with the site delivering little to no real value.
The company has also been accused of creating fake accounts and allowing others to create fake accounts, as well as exaggerating the size of its user base. According to Annalee Newitz, editor-in-chief of Gizmodo, who analysed the 2015 leaked data, Ashley Madison had over 70,000 bots sending fake female messages to male users.
Despite the controversy and criticism, Ashley Madison has an estimated revenue of $150 million and was planning a public share sale in London that would value it at $1 billion.
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Ashley Madison's data breach
Ashley Madison, a Canadian website catering to married people looking for discreet affairs, suffered a mass data breach in 2015. The personal information of up to 36 million users was exposed, causing personal calamity for many and bringing data protection and cyber compliance into the public eye.
The Impact Team announced the attack on 19 July 2015, threatening to expose the identities of Ashley Madison's users if its parent company, Avid Life Media, did not shut down the website and its sister site, "Established Men". The hackers claimed that the company was falsely asserting that paying them would "fully delete" user profiles and data, which the hack proved was untrue. On 20 July 2015, Ashley Madison put out statements addressing the breach, claiming to have secured their sites and closed the unauthorised access points. They also stated that they were working with law enforcement agencies to investigate the criminal act.
The breach resulted in a wave of public humiliation for famous individuals, including Josh Duggar, a former reality TV star who had previously faced allegations of sexual misconduct. The released data included records of transactions on a credit card account in his name. Additionally, two unconfirmed suicides were linked to the data breach, along with reports of hate crimes connected to the hack.
The data breach had legal repercussions as well. In July 2017, Avid Life Media (renamed Ruby Corporation) agreed to settle two dozen lawsuits stemming from the breach for $11.2 million. In the US and Canada, several data breach class actions were settled, awarding nominal sums to those affected. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also took action based on the site misleading consumers with fake user accounts and a lack of transparency about security measures.
The Ashley Madison data breach has been the subject of several documentaries and TV series, including a 2023 Hulu series titled "The Ashley Madison Affair" and a 2024 Netflix series called "Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal". The incident brought to light important discussions around data protection, cyber compliance, and the potential consequences of data breaches.
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Ashley Madison alternatives
Ashley Madison has long been the most popular dating platform for those seeking to have an affair or explore casual dating and extramarital fantasies. However, the website has also been the subject of much scrutiny and several data breaches, which has led to users seeking alternative platforms that offer increased privacy and security.
One such alternative is NoStringsAttached, a website designed for single people or those in committed relationships seeking a match. The site has been operating for over ten years and has excellent security features to keep things discreet, with more than 3 million monthly users.
Another option is Adult Friend Finder (AFF), which has been around since the 1990s and offers anonymous forums and sex-positive messaging. AFF has an abundance of search filters, chat rooms, video streaming, and blog features to help users find their match.
For those seeking a free alternative, Facebook Dating, OkCupid, and Plenty of Fish are recommended. Facebook Dating keeps all dating activity separate and private from your Facebook friends, and while its dating pool is smaller, all chat features are free. OkCupid is also free and has been recommended for those in the LGBTQ+ community, although one source notes that it is not popular in Australia.
Other alternatives to Ashley Madison include Seeking.com (formerly Seeking Arrangement), Victoria Milan, Secret, and Gleeden.
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Ashley Madison's messaging tips
Ashley Madison Messaging Tips
Ashley Madison is a dating platform that caters to those seeking extramarital affairs and casual encounters. While the platform has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting scams and fake profiles, it is possible to have a positive experience on the site. Here are some messaging tips to help you navigate the platform and increase your chances of making genuine connections:
Craft Thoughtful Messages
Avoid sending generic messages, winks, or favouriting profiles without meaningful engagement. Women on Ashley Madison often receive dozens, if not hundreds, of these notifications, which can be perceived as insincere. Instead, take the time to read through profiles and craft thoughtful messages that reflect a genuine interest. Ask questions about their passions and interests, and avoid commenting solely on their looks.
Timing is Key
Increase your chances of receiving a reply by sending messages during peak hours when members are most active, such as evenings or weekends. Specifically, sending messages between 9–11 PM on weekdays has proven successful for some users.
Protect Your Privacy
Ashley Madison offers privacy features to protect your anonymity, but it's essential to take additional steps to ensure your discretion. Avoid sharing personal information like your address or phone number in your messages. Regularly clear your browser's cache and cookies to further protect your privacy.
Customise Your Search
Utilise the search filters to find what you're looking for. Adjust filters like age, location, and marital status to match your preferences. Focus on active members who are logged in regularly, as they are more likely to engage in conversation.
Create a Standout Profile
A well-crafted profile will attract more responses and improve your chances of connecting with like-minded individuals. Use a mix of mysterious and playful language in your bio, and upload candid, high-quality photos instead of posed ones or selfies. Be honest about your interests, hobbies, and what you're looking for to increase your chances of making genuine connections.
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Frequently asked questions
Ashley Madison has received mostly negative reviews on Trustpilot and ProductReview.com.au, with a rating of 1.2/5 on Trustpilot. Many users have complained about fake profiles, scammers, and an aggressive push to buy credits. However, some reviews mention that the site is good if you are careful.
Sasha7 is a platform that eliminates Ashley Madison's confusing credit system, allowing users to read messages for free. It also has a transparent refund policy. Other alternatives include smaller and less well-known sites like J4Flirt.com, which usually have fewer scammers or fakes as they are still working to gain a good reputation.
In 2015, Ashley Madison was subjected to a data breach where the personal information of millions of users was released to the public. This included names, addresses, sexual preferences, and fantasies. The breach also revealed that the company had exaggerated the size of its user base by creating fake accounts.
