Google says it has shut down a massive “residential proxy” network run by China-based Ipidea that secretly turned millions of everyday devices into internet gateways for third parties. The network spread through free apps and software that quietly included proxy code, allowing others to route their traffic through users’ devices without their knowledge.
Using a US court order, Google took down Ipidea’s infrastructure, removed hundreds of related apps and blocked the SDKs via Play Protect. The network was previously linked to a huge botnet used for major DDoS attacks. Google estimates around nine million Android devices were affected and urges users to stay cautious when installing unknown free apps and to regularly review app permissions.
Source: Android Authority
