Ashley Madison hack: over 1 mn Brits get blackmail threats

More than a million UK marriage-cheat hacking victims are being targeted by predatory blackmailers in the now-notorious Ashley Madison hacking case.

Criminals are attempting to exploit customers of the Ashley Madison website whose details were leaked by hackers.

Information from 33 million accounts worldwide was stolen from the site, which offers to help users have an affair.

According to John McAfee, the eccentric security expert and founder of the first antivirus software company, the hacking was an inside job perpetrated by a woman.

Meanwhile, the Canadian firm which runs the operation has refused to give in to demands to shut it down, despite the scandal being linked to two suicides.

Now some of the 1.2 million Brits whose details were hacked have been receiving emails demanding cash via the online currency bitcoins in return for their silence.

One of the threats reads: ''Hello. Unfortunately, your data was leaked in the recent hacking of Ashley Madison and I now have your information.

''If you would like to prevent me from sharing this information with your significant other, send exactly 1.0000001 bitcoins [£137] to the following address...'' The sender then provides a coded address for their victim to use.

They sign off: ''You have seven days from receipt of this email to send the BTC [bitcoins].''

The blackmailers are using their own hacking skills to trace the partners of those found on Ashley Madison, which boasts, ''Life is short. Have an affair''.

Last week's leak included name, address and credit card details, as well as the sexual preferences of customers.

Members were exposed for choosing cross-dressing and spanking from a list of 62 sexual fantasies and fetishes.

Captain Michael Gorhum, of San Antonio police in Texas, took his life after his official email address was linked to an Ashley Madison account. And Canadian investigators confirmed a second suicide linked to the extramarital affairs site last week.