The cheating service - which has 37 million members globally, including 1.2m Brits, and uses the tagline “life is short, have an affair” – was targeted by hackers called the Impact Team who threatened to publish customers’ names, addresses and sexual fantasies.
The hackers believe Ashley Madison wrecks marriages and say those using the site don’t deserve anonymity because they are "cheating dirtbags."
Many worried love rats rushed to delete their accounts, but since the cyber attack, 2,500 customer records have allegedly been released online.
MISTRESS AUCTIONS UNDERWEAR MARRIED MEN GAVE HER ON EBAY: "THE GUILT IS TOO MUCH"
In response to the hack, Ashley Madison released a comment stating: "We apologise for this unprovoked and criminal intrusion into our customers’ information.
"At this time, we have been able to secure our sites, and close the unauthorised access points.
"We are working with law enforcement agencies, which are investigating this criminal act."
Extramarital affair websites are booming in the UK.
Illicit Encounters have reported a 10 per cent rise in customers year-on-year and every 80 seconds one woman in the UK joins Ashley Madison.
Worryingly, affairs are more prevalent than ever, with 60 per cent of men and 45 per cent of women set to cheat during their marriage.
But while these sites understandably cause outrage, divorcee Karen Marley, 48, has been happily using them for nine years and has dated more than 100 married men.
Karen, from Richmond, Yorkshire, says: “It’s unfair hackers have threatened to reveal people using the Ashley Madison website.
"Affairs aren’t always destructive.
"Usually there’s a lull in the marriage and the husband strays for a few months with a mistress, then goes back to his wife.
"She’s none-the-wiser and no-one gets hurt. It will only cause distress and pain to unsuspecting spouses if users’ identities are revealed.”
Karen started using adultery websites aged 37 after divorcing her husband of eight years, who she says is better as a friend.
She says: “I like the single lifestyle and didn’t want to be tied down. I don’t feel guilty about it.
"I’d never want any of the men to leave their wives. It’s just a bit of escapism and fun.
“I feel sorry for the wives who don’t have a clue what their husband is up to, but if a man wants to have an affair it’s going to happen, whether it’s on a website or somewhere else.
“I’ve been seeing a married man for nine years now and I’m dating four other married men.
"We go on dates and minibreaks but there’s never any suggestion things will get more serious. We’re just having fun.”
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