In an increasingly interconnected, digital world, it’s essential to make the right choices for your security on the Internet. There are good habits to get into to improve online safety, and you should keep your ear to the ground to know when a new threat has emerged or become more prevalent. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation recently warned that something as seemingly safe and secure as a home or small business Wi-Fi network could be in danger. This increasingly common criminal threat is known as a residential proxy, and the implications of being victimized by one are no small matter.

A residential proxy is a tool used by criminals to effectively pin their digital crimes onto others without their knowledge. A bad-faith actor will access a device like a smartphone, tablet, or even a Wi-Fi router without the owner’s consent. They then use their IP address as digital camouflage, going about their illicit activities under this stolen digital identity. Thus, if their activities are found out, it will appear to law enforcement authorities that the IP address’s actual owner is responsible, not the criminals who swiped the IP behind the proxy. That’s why it’s imperative that home Wi-Fi networks and the IPs connected to them are as safeguarded as possible.

There are a few strategies the FBI recommends to keep residential proxies at bay. For one, use common sense and act safely on your home Wi-Fi network. Avoid suspicious websites, don’t engage with pop-up advertisements, be cautious of apps from non-official sources, and don’t download free VPNs that lack concrete evidence of their safety. Through these channels, criminals can effectively access a backdoor to your network, steal your IP address, and begin engaging in illegal activities with your information acting as a decoy.

These strategies are great for personal devices and, in many cases, business ones, too. However, businesses should proceed online with additional levels of caution. They should take the steps needed to keep unauthorized devices off of the business network, block suspicious or known residential proxy IPs, and establish network segments to divert devices away from business systems. For personal and business networks, devices should routinely update to keep security measures up to date, and users should implement the SLAM method to defend against potential hackers.

It’s great that the FBI is spreading awareness of residential proxy risks. Google has also reported taking action to take down proxy rings. At the end of the day, though, individual users have to do what’s necessary to keep their IP address safe. So long as caution and discernment are exercised online, the likelihood of being victimized by a residential proxy scheme will be greatly reduced.