Our Review
Does Ashley Madison work again? Or are they still hacked? We took a closer look at Ashley Madison for you and if they live up to their promises.
Does Ashley Madison work again? Or are they still hacked? We took a closer look at Ashley Madison for you and if they live up to their promises.
Here you can see how membership figures at Ashley Madison are developing compared to others
With its unique target audience, you wouldn't be surprised that they have millions of members all over the world. Majority of its traffic comes from big countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Brazil. Most of its members are men who are middle-aged and above.
Ashley Madison is pretty famous for being an "affair site," where people can find any form of arrangements even when they are married or committed to someone. Thus, if you check out its members' profiles, most of them are married people looking for discreet relationships.
Ashley Madison has a diverse pool of open-minded members. Looking for a match won't be a problem since you have all the choices you can ask for. And most importantly, it has hundreds and thousands of active members just waiting for you to strike a conversation.
Ashley Madison has a registration process that anyone can easily understand. It does not require much personal information from you, which is quite understandable given its nature, which is to look for an extramarital relationship. However, it does make you specify your current relationship status, and some general information like your height, ethnicity, limits, etc. The information that you give upon signing up is reflected on your profile page media.
Signing up is convenient and completely free. It will usually only take you less than five minutes to finish. Part of the process is selecting your display picture. Once you have chosen a photo that you want to use, it shall allow you to make simple edits on it. You can either blur out the image or add masks to cover parts of your face. This is a way for Ashley Madison to keep its members anonymous and safe.
For women, making connections and starting conversations on Ashley Madison is entirely free. Men, however, have to use and pay for credits to use these features. It has the necessary functions for users to be able to establish communication with each other, including a chat feature that is available.
Everyone has the privilege to create a list of their favourite profiles for free. Each member can add up to 100 profiles to their list and can manually add or remove people in it at any given time. You can also send winks to other members for free. Do this to show your interest towards someone whose profile you might like. When you send winks, you can also opt to attach your private showcase key. The private showcase key allows you to see a member's photo without all the fuzz and the masks.
It also allows you to send virtual gifts to each other, but this feature is not free. Gifts cause credits, and it may vary according to the type of gift you are going to send.
If you are looking for a detailed profile, you might not be able to find it on Ashley Madison. Because of its nature as an cheating spouse service, people are quite reserved when it comes to sharing details about themselves. It won't ask for your name; instead, it will ask you to provide a unique username as your identification.
Your Ashley Madison profile only has the most basic information like city/location, gender, age, zodiac sign, and some details about what kind of relationship you're looking for, and what are the things that excite you. These will appear on your profile and can be updated and edited any time that you want.
If you happen to find someone interesting, you can freely visit their profiles to see if you are compatible with each other. You can browse and view profiles with no credit required. You can also upload photos and choose to blur out or edit them for privacy. These blurred and edited photos are what people can see on your profile. If you want to share a clear unedited version of your images, you can give them access to it by sending them your private key.
The Ashley Madison App is free to download on the AppStore and Google Play. It is quite similar to the desktop version with all the necessary features you'll find on the site. It is a lite app that would not take up much space on your phone memory.
If you are a person who's often on the app, know that unlike its desktop version, when buying credits, you have to process it through the iTunes or Google Play account.
The app is designed well with an icon that is not suspicious and can easily be hidden. It also offers an easier way to like profiles with its swipe feature. If you're looking for a quick meet up, the app allows you to find new members near you, and see who's checking you out.
"I used to be so happily married, but something isn't quite right with the relationship I have with my wife now. Ever since she got promoted, she would come home from work late and would always leave early too. I tried talking to her about this, hoping that she would squeeze some time for me and the kids in her schedule. But she'd end up getting upset. I love her. I really do. I just can't help but miss the physical intimacy. We hardly ever have sex anymore, and I have needs too! So I tried looking for a community where I won't be judged for wanting to have sexual arrangements even though I was married. I came across this site called Ashley Madison and it has sparked my interest. I started searching for Ashley Madison reviews and it has convinced me to try the site myself. It felt liberating, to find someone who completely understands your situation and wouldn't judge you for things you choose to do. I am actually still an active user, and I don't think I would ever stop."
- Admin Officer, 42
The design and website layout of Ashley Madison is quite simple and easy to understand. Its interface is friendly to those who still don't know their way through websites, and therefore can be used by people from any age range.
It has a menu bar where all of its features and relevant pages are listed. This way, users will only have to look at the menu bar whenever they need to visit a page or do something. However, what seems to be off is its placement. Unlike other websites where the options are listed on the top part, in Ashley Madison, the menu bar is almost halfway the page. So basically, you can only scroll through the lower 3/4 parts of the page.
When it comes to comfort, it is quite easy on the eyes. It uses white as the main color and uses pink to highlight important details.
DatingScout.com talked with Paul Keable, Ashley Madisons' Chief Strategy Officer, about their approach on data safety today and how someone can make the most of their membership on Ashley Madison:
DatingScout.com: Which security features were installed after the data breach to guarantee the users' privacy and security of their data?
Paul Keable: Discretion is at the heart of our business. So, it should come as no surprise that security and privacy are among our top priorities – something we believe our members appreciate.
Security features members can see include two-factor verification, an option that provides members with an added level of account security they can control, rigorous PCI compliance, and fully-encrypted browsing. But our efforts go beyond technology solutions.
A good example of how we’ve changed our thinking and approach to privacy and security is reflected in being awarded the Privacy by Design certification from Ryerson’s Privacy and Big Data Institute. Organizations that have achieved this designation have demonstrated that they have withstood the scrutiny of a rigorous third-party assessment, assuring the public that their product or service reflects the viewpoint of today's privacy-conscious consumer.
While technology is a key aspect of our daily efforts to protect and secure our members’ information – our people are the most critical part. Regardless of role, our team reflects our approach to security on a daily basis, providing the level of service expected of us.
Our people approach to security and privacy is led by a team of security and privacy experts – including our Privacy Officer and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) – that are committed to building data security into the core of our entire work culture.
Having a dedicated Privacy Officer and CISO ensures that there is a constant reminder that our members have entrusted us with their information – and it is our job to protect that information each and every day.
DatingScout.com: What's the estimated success-rate for men and women with a premium membership for finding an affair through the site today?
Paul Keable: With more than a million affairs happening each month, we feel our members have clearly shown our community is a place where a successful affair can happen.
Our unique features give you the controls you need to manage your experience and create the best possible environment for an affair to happen. We offer selected features such as Priority Man which benefits our full status members greatly as it places their profile among the first three in all search results performed by female members. This gives them more chances of getting noticed and receiving greater communication results.
We also offer Priority Mail meaning a message sent with Priority Status will be flagged to the top of the receiving member’s inbox and a confirmation receipt is generated when the message is read. These types of features are likely the most attractive to those looking to establish a greater sense of efficiency when it comes to vetting affair partners. This is appealing to them since most members are juggling more than one relationship so if we can save them time and present more opportunities to them quicker, it's of great value.
DatingScout.com: What tips do you have for male and female users to make the most of their time on Ashley Madison?
Paul Keable: We believe that Ashley Madison has the most honest members in the online dating world. Our members can be completely transparent about what they are looking for because they are joining the biggest community of married daters – people who know what they’re looking for, because it's currently missing from their marriage. So we'd always advise members to approach their profile creation in a way that indicates to other members they are taking the process of finding a match seriously.
Like with other online dating sites, the likelihood of success is increased when members take the time to upload photos and share something about themselves that invites potential connection with someone else. Since we specialize in discretion however, and the majority of our members are married, we also encourage them to take the necessary precautions to reduce their digital lipstick. That is, any digital evidence of their affair. While we design our platform with their privacy in mind (e.g. photo access requires invite by private key, unbranded app icon, etc.), it's also important they aren't careless in their approach to preserving their discretion (e.g. leaving their phone unlocked or laptop open, etc.).
DatingScout.com: What were the biggest mistakes Ashley Madison has made that lead to the data breach scandal in 2015?
Paul Keable: We let our members down. Yet, with more than 20,000 people joining daily (on average) we know that our efforts to rebuild the relationship with our members is succeeding.
Today security is at the heart of everything we do and we have a security-focused mindset embedded in our employee culture. We are focused on continuing to deliver a world-class service, one that was and will continue to be an innovator in the world of online dating. Currently, we are more committed on building an enhanced experience for members. Every day we ask how can we make Ashley Madison better for them – that’s what drives us.
In comparison to other providers Ashley Madison is average.
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Duration / Credits / Coins | Costs | Total |
---|---|---|
Basic | ||
Classic | ||
Elite ? This package includes 30 FREE days of Priority Man status (a USD220.00 value). To help you connect, you’ll also receive 24 hours of FREE chat on your first day. | ||
Women who are seeking men are free to use all of the site's features. For other members (women seeking women; men seeking men; men seeking women, etc.), they have to purchase credits to be able to enjoy the site and initiate communication to other members. Ashley Madison's premium features are not based on a monthly subscription but on credits that you have to buy per package. The site offers three different packages: Elite = 1,000 Credits, Classic = 500 Credit, Basic = 100 Credits.
The credits needed for the features are not the same, so there are some that require more credits than the other functions. Opening collect messages, sending priority emails, and initiating emails cost 5 credits. Once you reply to people you have previously contacted, you no longer have to use credits every time you send them emails. Using the chat feature will also cost you credits: 30 credits for 30 minutes, and 60 credits for 60 minutes. If you want to send gifts to your match, virtual gifts are available for 20, 30, and 50 credits.
Overall, the prices for the credit packages are quite reasonable.
Since the site is pretty basic, it doesn't have that many special features that are exclusive to Ashley Madison. Despite that, the site continues to provide services that are quite useful in finding a match. The following are its special features:
The site allows you to curate a list of your favourite Ashley Madison profiles. Each user can add up to 100 profiles in their list. It is free for everyone and allows you to remember the people that really caught your eye.
If you want to keep your identity private, the site gives every member the privilege to upload a discreet photo. When you upload a picture, you will be given the option to blur the image out or add some face masks and sensors that can help protect your identity. When you meet someone you like, you can give them the key so they can access clear versions of your photos.
Once you send a wink to someone, you are telling them that you are interested. You can find this function on the profile page of the person you are crushing on. Under their profile pictures, you will find a smiley face with a label that says "Send Wink."
This is a special feature that is useful for those who's always travelling. With a few bucks, you can send messages to at most 30 girls who live in that area and get to know them better days before your arrival.
The Priority Man gives you a profile boost. This is a paid feature that makes your profile stand out in the members' page. With this, your profile may appear different on other peoples search pages.
This feature allows you to message and talk to anyone you have had contact with. You can get this feature as a free trial after buying a credit package. The trial will have a 30-day validity. After that, you will be asked to pay for it, if you want to continue using the feature.
Members can send a message and use the "Priority Mail" feature. This highlights the message and puts it on top of the recipient's mailbox.
Members using the system based on credits can send a message with priority for an additional credit cost. Subscription users can choose to purchase select subscription packages that include priority messaging.
Signing Up: | 4.0 / 5 |
Making Contact: | 4.0 / 5 |
Profile Quality: | 3.0 / 5 |
App: | 4.0 / 5 |
Real Life Review: | 4.0 / 5 |
You can have the option to enable or disable this feature anytime you want on the 'Profile Options' page.
Deactivating your account will only remove your profile from the search results and hide your profile from the site. Once your profile is deactivated, you can restore it by contacting customer service.
Full deletion, on the other hand, will erase all the data you have on your profile, including photos, messages, gifts, and others.
All payments made via credit or debit cards are encrypted and securely transmitted to the payment processor.
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Get more info...Company: | Ruby Life Inc. |
Address: | PO Box 67027, Toronto, ON M4P 1E4 Canada |
Phone-Hotline: | (416) 480-2334 |