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My reaction is still mostly schadenfreude. If/when these people are caught, they should face the consequences of their actions but I'm not going to wrap parano

My reaction is still mostly schadenfreude. If/when these people are caught, they should face the consequences of their actions but I'm not going to wrap paranoia over my own peccadillos in fake outrage over internet privacy. I'm opposed to people doing unauthorized things with other people's property on general principles. I'm far more concerned with the IRS's data breach because every victim was legally compelled to submit certain personal information to the IRS. Everyone on Ashley Madison was there voluntarily for nefarious purposes. Catch them and prosecute them but don't cry crocodile tears either.

dhimes 11y ago
Agree. But if I understand correctly, the purpose of the hack was to take down a website that was ripping people off and, in the minds (if not experience) of the hacker(s), a scam. In a way, it's not unlike Snowden's revelations. Yes, it was illegal. Yes, some people are embarrassed. But the intent, in the long run, is actually to protect those people. And, regrettably, the fact that sex secrets were exposed is likely to alert much more of the population to the real dangers of privacy erosion than Snowden's revelations.
- wodenokoto 11y ago
  I read their statement as they were morally angry at the purpose of the enterprise
- isaacremuant 11y ago
  Read the "Time's up" message they wrote. They pretty much speak in a righteous way to the signed up people. They tell them to "atone and move on" or something of the sort. This reads to me more like "power trip" than anything else.
  - d23 11y ago
    Peoples' motivations for doing things are never cut and dry. Yes, an amount of ego may have snuck in there, but they may have also genuinely thought they were doing a Good Deed.
grinnick 11y ago
Most of them yes. Lots of innocent people are caught up in this too. For example, many women joined the site to try and find out if their husbands were having an affair. Other people had third parties use their pictures and emails used to sign up. http://www.troyhunt.com/2015/08/heres-what-ashley-madison-members-have.html http://www.troyhunt.com/2015/08/heres-what-ashley-madison-me...

dhimes 11y ago

Agree. But if I understand correctly, the purpose of the hack was to take down a website that was ripping people off and, in the minds (if not experience) of the hacker(s), a scam. In a way, it's not unlike Snowden's revelations. Yes, it was illegal. Yes, some people are embarrassed. But the intent, in the long run, is actually to protect those people. And, regrettably, the fact that sex secrets were exposed is likely to alert much more of the population to the real dangers of privacy erosion than Snowden's revelations.

wodenokoto 11y ago
I read their statement as they were morally angry at the purpose of the enterprise
isaacremuant 11y ago
Read the "Time's up" message they wrote. They pretty much speak in a righteous way to the signed up people. They tell them to "atone and move on" or something of the sort. This reads to me more like "power trip" than anything else.
- d23 11y ago
  Peoples' motivations for doing things are never cut and dry. Yes, an amount of ego may have snuck in there, but they may have also genuinely thought they were doing a Good Deed.

grinnick 11y ago

Most of them yes. Lots of innocent people are caught up in this too. For example, many women joined the site to try and find out if their husbands were having an affair. Other people had third parties use their pictures and emails used to sign up. http://www.troyhunt.com/2015/08/heres-what-ashley-madison-members-have.html http://www.troyhunt.com/2015/08/heres-what-ashley-madison-me...