Alphabet's Google announced it has disrupted a major internet proxy network used to conceal malicious cyber activity. The tech giant took action against the NetNut residential proxy network, also known as Popa, in a coordinated effort with the FBI and Lumen.
Google disabled accounts and services linked to NetNut's malware command-and-control operations. It shared technical intelligence on the group's infrastructure with law enforcement and industry partners to support broader enforcement.
Residential proxy networks route internet traffic through consumer IP addresses, masking the origin of online activity. While sometimes used legitimately, these networks are frequently abused by cybercriminals to bypass security defenses.
Google stated in a blog that its coordinated actions have caused significant degradation to NetNut's proxy network and business operations, reducing its pool of available devices by millions.
NetNut, founded in 2017 as a subsidiary of Israel's Alarum Technologies, offers various proxy services including residential and mobile proxies.