It seems that the "SSL Secure Site" notation on AshleyMadison.com was as dependable as the promise of its clients' wedding rings.
Which is to say, not very.
That's right. The cyber security and privacy of the adultery website has been violated.
Hey, no judging here. But I do want to offer the philandering members of the website, which advertises using the slogan "Life is short. Have an affair.", some divorce related tax tips.
Just in case the cyber infiltrators follow through on their threat to make public the info on the 37 million marital cheaters.
UPDATE: The wait is over. On Aug. 18, the hackers finally posted the stolen Ashley Madison data. The information includes millions of names, addresses and phone numbers submitted by users of the site. One analysis of emails found that around 15,000 are official U.S. military or government addresses.
And just in case your spouse might not take too kindly to your participation.
Brian Krebs, whose Krebs on Security blog first reported the breach, said the hackers claim to have completely compromised Ashley Madison's user databases, financial records and other proprietary information.
If that data is released and your marriage subsequently turns shaky, you might want to check out my earlier blog posts on divorce and taxes. Here are a few to get you started:
- Divorce tax tips from Tiger Woods
- Tiger, taxes and divorce (again)
- Jon and Kate plus 8 divorce tax tips
- Divorce, taxes and Kim Kardashian's short-lived marriage
- Many marriage and divorce tax issues, regardless of couple's gender
There's also my piece on Dealing with Divorce Dollars + Cents that I wrote for Austin Woman's Worth column. And check out the chapter on divorce and taxes in my book "The Truth About Paying Fewer Taxes."
Then call a good divorce attorney.
