Jan 30, 2026
Imagine a huge network of secret tunnels bad actors use to sneak onto millions of computers and phones. That’s how IPIDEA, one of the biggest malicious networks in the world, operated — until now.
The IPIDEA network allowed bad actors to hijack access to people's home internet connections in order to conduct criminal activity that couldn’t be traced to them. That’s why it’s important never to "share" your internet with programs you don’t trust. We disrupted IPIDEA by taking down their online storefront and took them to court so they can’t market or distribute to those targeting unknowing internet users.
To further safeguard Android users, Google Play Protect — Android’s built-in security protection — will automatically warn you if an app contains bad IPIDEA code and remove it from your device or block it from being installed. Lastly, we’ve shared our research with other companies so we all can make sure IPIDEA doesn’t grow back.
Residential proxy networks have become a pervasive tool for everything from high-end espionage to massive criminal schemes. By routing traffic through a person’s home internet connection, attackers can hide in plain sight. By taking down the infrastructure used to run the IPIDEA network, we have effectively pulled the rug out from under a global marketplace that was selling access to millions of hijacked consumer devices.
