Controversial affair website Ashley Madison - which has been at the centre of a new Netflix documentary - has strict privacy guidance for people still using the platform in 2024.
The dating site - which is used by people seeking out an affair - has had a controversial reputation thanks to a 2015 cyber attack which saw personal details of millions of users leaked onto the dark web.
The scandal was shown in the three-part docuseries Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal on Netflix, with many viewers shocked to discover the site was still going.
Ashley Madison has since published a clear set of guidelines for anyone looking to use its site to cheat on their partner.
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Stating that the dating website strives to keep its community 'secure and discreet' the security and privacy guidelines ask users to follow the advice in order to keep themselves safe.
Using secure connections
Guidance includes obvious tips such as making sure to use an incognito browser as well as urging caution to anyone communicating or meeting up with anyone outside the platform.
Ashley Madison also suggests exercising caution when using the site in public locations such as airports and cafes, as these connections are not as secure (duh).
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Usernames and login info
There is also advice on how to create an anonymous account, suggesting to create usernames such as 'Romantic_at_Heart' instead of anything which could identify you.
When it comes to login information, the site also recommends using an email that doesn't contain your real name and activating two factor authentication.
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Should you happen to come across an account you think is fraudulent, the guidance recommends to report it for investigation straight away.
For users concerned about getting caught out by false or fraudulent emails, the guidance states that users should never click on links which direct them away from ashleymadison.com.
"It is not Ashley Madison. Do not provide them with any personal or payment information," the guidance states.
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Emails will only come from the address @ashleymadison.com, with users urged to double check for any spelling or grammar mistakes in the address.
Keeping your info private
The site also urges to never 'send money or goods to other Ashley Madison Members', warning that you should always avoid dishing out your financial information to anyone as well as your personal email address, workplace and address.
The site adds: "Do not post photos that are identical or very similar to photos that are available elsewhere (such as on social media). These could be used to identify you (for example, using Google’s image search function). Instead, use different photos and/or our fun editing features to mask (perhaps literally!) your identity."
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Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal well and truly catapulted the site back into headlines as it delved into the 2015 cyberattack on the site, which went on to be one of the biggest cyber scandals of the decade.
At the time, the site - which had around 30 million users - received a warning from hackers to either shut down or see user information released.
The Netflix mini-series went on to reveal the consequences of the data leak, which saw anyone who'd ever accessed the site at risk of being exposed, as well as sitting down with users who attempted to explain their reasons for cheating on a spouse.
Topics: TV and Film, Netflix, Sex and Relationships
Brenna Cooper