Ashley Madison website leak has ‘far reaching implications’

The alleged leak of user data hacked from adultery site Ashley Madison could be larger than first thought, as email addresses that claim to be linked to the British government appear among the list.

But web experts have warned that appearing on the list of users does not confirm a link to the site, as Ashley Madison only validated email addresses for paying subscribers, meaning that made-up, out-of-use and invalid addresses could have been used to register for the site.

SNP MP Michelle Thomson has already denied any connection with the site after an email address allegedly linked to her appeared among the data posted.