Google's Disrupts IPIDEA 922 Proxy: Why & Safe Alternatives
Google has taken down the massive IPIDEA, 922Proxy, PIAProxy, PYProxy network that secretly hijacked millions of phones & computers. Learn the risks of malicious residential proxies, how to protect your devices, and discover safe, ethical alternatives.
On Jan 29, 2026, Google and its partners disrupted a massive, hidden network that was secretly turning millions of personal devices into tools for hackers. The target was IPIDEA, believed to be one of the world's largest residential proxy networks.
Unlike legitimate proxy or data collection services like Bright Data, Oxylabs, NetNut, Smartproxy, or MoMoProxy, which operate with transparency and user consent, IPIDEA's model was built on deception. It embedded hidden code into ordinary-looking apps and free VPNs. When users downloaded these, their phones and computers were silently enrolled into a global proxy network. Their home internet connections were then sold to others, often for malicious purposes.
While some proxy networks claim to support privacy, Google's investigation found IPIDEA was overwhelmingly used by criminals and state-backed hackers to hide their attacks. In just one week, Google tracked over 550 different threat groups using it to target businesses and governments worldwide. For the average user, this meant their device could be used to launch cyberattacks, potentially getting their IP address blacklisted or even exposing their home network to security risks.
IPIDEA didn't operate under a single name. It hid behind a maze of seemingly independent brands to appear legitimate, including:
- Proxy Services: 360 Proxy, 922 Proxy, Luna Proxy, IP2World, ABC Proxy, Cherry Proxy, ipidea, PIA Proxy, PY Proxy, Tab Proxy.
- VPNs: Door VPN, Radish VPN, Galleon VPN.
- Development Kits: PacketSDK, HexSDK (used to infect apps)
Google took legal action to seize the domains controlling the network. Google also ensured Google Play Protect automatically finds and removes infected Android apps. By working with industry partners, Google had significantly degraded IPIDEA's operations, shrinking its network by millions of devices.
This case highlights the risks of "free" or "too-good-to-be-true" services online.
- Be Skeptical: Avoid apps promising payment for your "unused bandwidth."
- Use Official Stores: Download apps only from official platforms like Google Play.
- Check Your Devices: Use built-in protections like Google Play Protect and purchase electronics from reputable brands.
Legitimate data collection and proxy services operate openly with clear terms. The disruption of IPIDEA serves as a critical reminder to be vigilant about what you install and the hidden price some "free" services can carry.
For users seeking reliable residential proxy or web scraping services—for legitimate business needs like market research, ad verification, or brand protection—it is crucial to choose an ethical provider. Unlike the deceptive model of IPIDEA, legitimate companies operate with transparency, obtain proper user consent, and implement strong compliance measures.
MoMoProxy Features
| Dimension | Description |
|---|---|
| IP Coverage | Over 150 million residential IPs across 200+ countries. |
| Main Advantages | 1. High-Quality Positioning: Claims parity with top brands like SmartProxy, Brightdata.2. High Reliability & Speed: 99.9% uptime, average response time <0.5s.3. Cost-Effectiveness & Flexibility: Competitive "cheap rotating residential proxy" plans.4. Strong Ecosystem Partnerships: Official integrations with AdsPower, GoLogin, Capsolver, etc.5. Convenient User Experience: One-click proxy list generation, free trial. |
| Core Features | 1. Core Products: Rotating Residential Proxies & Static Residential Proxies.2. High-Performance: No thread limits, speeds up to 300M/s.3. Protocol Support: HTTP(S) and SOCKS5.4. Targeting: Free city, state, country-level targeting.5. Payment: Credit cards, Google/Apple Pay, Cryptocurrencies (USDT, etc.). |
| Reference Pricing | Rotating Residential (Lowest Cost): $3.00/GB (when purchasing 1TB at $850)Rotating Residential (Entry-Level): $15/5GB/month ($3.00/GB)Static Residential (Lowest Cost): $0.05/IP/day ($1.50/IP/month)Static Residential (Entry-Level): $5/IP/30 Days |
BrightData Features
| Dimension | Description |
|---|---|
| IP Coverage | Residential: 150M+ IPs; Mobile: 7M+ IPs; ISP: 1.3M+ IPs. Global coverage with city/carrier/ASN targeting. |
| Main Advantages | 1. Enterprise Trust: Serves 20,000+ global clients.2. High Success Rate & Stability: 99.99% uptime, 99.95% success rate.3. Compliance & Ethics: 100% ethically sourced, GDPR/CCPA compliant, strict KYC.4. Complete Solution: Full suite from proxies to managed data delivery.5. Welcome Bonus: Up to $500 bonus on first top-up. |
| Core Features | 1. Product Portfolio: Proxy Infrastructure, Web Access API, Data Feeds, Web Archive.2. AI-Ready: "AI Crawler Studio" for turning websites into AI-ready data.3. Performance: Auto bypass of anti-bot measures, supports JS rendering.4. Support & Security: 24/7 support (<10 min avg response), enterprise-grade security. |
| Reference Pricing | Residential Proxies (Entry-Level): $4.00/GB (Pay-as-you-go)Residential Proxies (Lowest Cost): $2.50/GB ($1999/month plan at 798 GB)Datacenter Proxies (Entry-Level): $1.40/IP ($14 for 10 IPs/month)Datacenter Proxies (Lowest Cost): $0.90/IP ($900 for 1000 IPs/month)ISP Proxies (Entry-Level): $1.80/IP ($18 for 10 IPs/month)ISP Proxies (Lowest Cost): $1.30/IP ($1300 for 1000 IPs/month)Mobile Proxies (Entry-Level): $8.00/GB (Pay-as-you-go)Mobile Proxies (Lowest Cost): $5.00/GB ($1999/month plan at 399 GB/month) |
Oxylabs Features
| Dimension | Description |
|---|---|
| IP Coverage | 188+ countries. Over 20 million mobile IPs, 2 million+ datacenter IPs. Residential, Mobile, Datacenter, ISP proxies. |
| Main Advantages | 1. Industry Recognition: "Best proxy service of 2025" by PCMag, Leader on G2.2. Exceptional Performance: Avg response <1s, success rate 99%+, 99.9% uptime.3. High Trust Factor: 4000+ clients (Stanford, Forbes, etc.), 1000+ positive reviews.4. Enterprise Assurance: ISO 27001 certified, Lloyd's insurance.5. AI-Driven: AI Studio, self-healing parsers, integrates with 30+ tools. |
| Core Features | 1. Complete Product Stack: Four-layer solution (Connection, Access, Scraping, Data).2. Technical Capabilities: Web Scraper API, Unblocking Browser, AI-Scraper.3. Unified Dashboard: Integrated management, monitoring, spending control.4. Developer Experience: Clear docs, code samples, active Discord community. |
| Reference Pricing | Residential Proxies (Entry-Level): $20/5GB ($4.00/GB)Residential Proxies (Lowest Cost): $2.00/GB ($2000/1TB)Mobile Proxies (Entry-Level): $5.4/1GB/MonthMobile Proxies (Lowest Cost): $3.00/GB ($3000/1TB)Datacenter Proxies Shared (Entry-Level): $12/10 IPs/Month ($1.20/IP)Datacenter Proxies Dedicated (Lowest Cost): $2.25/IP/Month ($6.75/3 IPs)Web Unblocker (Entry-Level): $45/8 GB ($5.63/GB)Web Unblocker (Lowest Cost): $3.00/GB ($2100/700 GB) |
Decodo Features
| Dimension | Description |
|---|---|
| IP Coverage | 125 million+ IPs across 195+ countries. Dynamic/Static Residential, Mobile, Datacenter proxies. |
| Main Advantages | 1. AI-Ready Platform: Designed for AI/data projects.2. High Success Rate & Stability: 99.99% uptime, 99.86% success rate.3. Complete Solution: From proxies to scraping APIs, site unblockers, AI tools.4. Ease of Use: User-friendly dashboard, free tools, detailed docs. |
| Core Features | 1. Rich Product Portfolio: Proxies, Scraping APIs (Core/Advanced), Site Unblocker, AI Parser.2. Intelligence & Automation: Instant IP rotation, AI-powered HTML to JSON parsing.3. High Performance: Avg response time <0.2s.4. Premium Support: 24/7 support, free trial, 14-day money-back guarantee. |
| Reference Pricing | Dynamic Residential (Entry-Level): $1.5/GBDynamic Residential (Lowest Cost): Lower with volume discountsStatic Residential (Entry-Level): $0.27/IPStatic Residential (Lowest Cost): Lower with volume discountsMobile Proxies (Entry-Level): $2.25/GBMobile Proxies (Lowest Cost): Lower with volume discountsDatacenter Proxies (Entry-Level): $0.020/IPDatacenter Proxies (Lowest Cost): Lower with volume discountsScraping API (Entry-Level): $0.08/1K requestsScraping API (Lowest Cost): $0.95/1K requests (Advanced API) |
Netnut Features
| Dimension | Description |
|---|---|
| IP Coverage | Rotating Residential: 85.67M+ IPs in 195+ countries.Static Residential: 1M+ IPs.Mobile: 5M+ IPs in 100+ countries. |
| Main Advantages | 1. Top Industry Rating: #1 Web Data Provider on G2.2. Enterprise Trust: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, 3500+ clients.3. Exceptional Performance: 100% mobile success rate, Zero IP Blocks claim.4. AI-Infrastructure Ready: "AI Data Infrastructure" solution.5. Compliance & Value: B2B-sourced IPs, excellent "value for money." |
| Core Features | 1. Comprehensive Portfolio: Proxy Products & Scrapers/Datasets.2. AI & BI Oriented: Built for AI training and Business Intelligence.3. High Success Guarantee: Website Unblocker claims 100% success rate.4. User-Friendly Dashboard: Real-time management and analytics. |
| Reference Pricing | Rotating Residential (Entry-Level): $99/28GB/Month ($3.54/GB)Rotating Residential (Lowest Cost): $1.88/GB ($3180 for 2000GB/2TB)Static Residential ISP (Entry-Level): $99/7GB/Month ($14.14/GB)Static Residential ISP (Lowest Cost): $4.50/GB ($4500/1TB)Mobile Proxies (Entry-Level): $99/13GB ($7.62/GB)Mobile Proxies (Lowest Cost): $4.50/GB ($4500/1TB)Datacenter Proxies (Entry-Level): $100/100GB ($1.00/GB)Datacenter Proxies (Lowest Cost): $0.50/GB ($1000/2TB) |
The shutdown of the IPIDEA network and its associated brands, like 922 Proxy, underscores a pivotal shift in the proxy industry toward greater accountability, transparency, and security.
When selecting a proxy service, it is imperative to prioritize providers that demonstrate a clear commitment to ethical practices, robust compliance, and professional reliability. The alternatives listed above — MoMoProxy, BrightData, Oxylabs, Decodo, and Netnut — represent credible, enterprise-grade options that can meet diverse needs while ensuring your operations are built on a secure and sustainable foundation. Moving forward, making an informed choice is not only better for your business but also contributes to a healthier, safer internet ecosystem.
