Risky Bulletin Srsly Risky Biz: Google's cyber disruption unit kicks its first goal
Feb 5, 2026
Tom Uren, policy and intelligence editor and author of the Seriously Risky Business newsletter, unpacks Google’s takedown of the IPIDEA residential proxy network. He also covers SpaceX’s swift fixes after Starlink was adapted for long-range drone guidance. The conversation spotlights private-sector disruption, faster legal takedowns, and why corporate pressure matters.
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Residential Proxies Power Wide-Scale Abuse
- Residential proxy networks route traffic through end users' devices and are a major enabler of cybercrime and espionage.
- Google found over 550 distinct threat actors using the IPIDEA network in one week, showing scale and malicious dominance.
Use Tech Analysis Plus Legal Takedowns
- Combine technical analysis with civil takedowns to disrupt abuse effectively.
- Share fingerprints and take apps off stores to prevent rapid reconstitution of proxy networks.
Speed Up Civil Takedown Processes
- Make court processes for civil takedowns faster and more specialist rather than legalizing hacking back.
- Create templates and possibly a specialist court to let companies act quickly and consistently.