Hello. On Wednesday, Google used a federal court order to get dozens of domains belonging to Ipidea removed from the internet.

Google and security researchers say the mysterious Chinese company sneaks dangerous software onto millions of phones, home computers and Android devices.

Control of the domains allowed Google to shut down both the public websites and technical back-end of Ipidea, which operates using more than a dozen brand names. Read the full WSJ story.

Also today: 

• ICE expands use of AI
• U.S. investigates potential hack of government crypto wallets 
• Italy works to secure next month's Winter Olympics

A “non-kinetic effects cell” coordinated cyber and other electronic operations used during the U.S. military's capture of Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro. “The reality is that we’ve now pulled cyber operators to the forefront,” Joint Staff Deputy Director for Global Operations Brig. Gen. R. Ryan Messer said Wednesday at a Senate hearing. (NextGov)

Securing the Winter Olympics: Italy's National Cybersecurity Agency has been preparing to protect tech systems built to support next month's games. That includes helping French counterparts defend their networks during the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. 

• Ticketing systems and streaming services are likely targets, Italian officials said.
• About 20 of the agency's 100 staff members will be dedicated full time to the games, which start Feb. 6. Another 100 specialists from Deloitte and 300 from various other suppliers will also work the games.  (Reuters)

FBI has shut down RAMP dark web forum, which sold malware and other hacking tools, potentially collecting email addresses and other data about its users. (Bleeping Computer)

ICE expands use of AI. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has developed 25 additional user cases for AI technology since July, according to a document posted Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. 

• ICE AI systems include using biometric data to confirm identities and a generative AI tool from Palantir to identify key details from files such as rap sheets and warrants. (FedScoop)

The WSJ Pro Cybersecurity team is Deputy Bureau Chief Kim S. Nash and reporters Angus Loten and James Rundle. Follow us on X @WSJCyber. Reach the team by replying to any newsletter you receive or by emailing Kim at kim.nash@wsj.com.