Archive · 31 Jan 2026
Google Disrupts Massive Chinese Proxy Network
Google found out that millions of Android phones and smart devices were being used without their owners' knowledge as part of a big internet network.
This network, run by a Chinese company called Ipidea, allowed bad actors to hide their internet activity by making it look like it was coming from your device.
Google worked with a US court to shut down this network and removed many apps related to it from Android devices.
This was done to protect people's privacy and security.
Google disrupted a large residential proxy network operated by a Chinese firm called Ipidea.
The network used millions of Android devices and smart devices as internet gateways without user knowledge.
Google obtained a US federal court order to shut down dozens of websites and backend systems used by the firm.
Hundreds of apps associated with the company were removed from Android devices.
The network allowed threat actors to route their internet traffic through users' devices, making it appear as if the traffic originated from the users' devices.
- Who
- Google's Threat Intelligence Group and a Chinese firm called Ipidea
- What
- Disruption of a large residential proxy network
- When
- Recently (exact date not specified)
- Where
- Global
- Why
- To prevent the misuse of devices for routing internet traffic
- Number of Devices Affected
- 9 million
- Company Involved
- Ipidea
- Action Taken by Google
- Removed apps and disrupted network
- Court Order
- US federal court order
- Nature of Network
- Residential proxy network
