The Ultimate Guide to Securing Your Google Ads Account from Unscrupulous Hackers

So, you are a paid search professional working toward building stellar Google Ad campaigns for a brand/business. 

On one such bright sunny morn, you log in to your Google Ads account, with an iced frappuccino in hand, only to be met with the following scenario. 

Your budget has been completely drained overnight.

Worse, your brand name is now being associated with shady ads promoting malware or scams. Terrifying, right?

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Unfortunately, this nightmare is turning into a reality for many advertisers. 

Hackers are getting sneakier, exploiting platforms like Google Sites to mimic official Google Ads pages, steal login credentials, and take control of ad accounts.

If you think, “This won’t happen to me”, think again. Cybercriminals are relentless, and if you manage ad spend on Google Ads, you’re a prime target.

But don’t worry, we at Mavlers, with 13+ years of experience and expertise in the paid ads arena, will arm you with everything you need to identify these threats, defend your Google Ads account, and take immediate action if you’ve been hacked.

Let’s get started.

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An insight into the sneaky tactics hackers use to hijack Google Ads accounts

Hackers aren’t just sitting in a dark room in this day and age, guessing your password. They have evolved much like your Tesla hybrid, resorting to using sophisticated tricks to fool even the most cautious advertisers. 

One of their favorite tools? Leveraging Google Sites to host phishing pages. Here’s how this technique works.

1. Hosting phishing pages on Google sites

Wondering what’s happening?

Well, hackers are creating fake login pages on Google Sites, making them look exactly like Google Ads’ official sign-in portal.

Here’s how this works;

• The URL starts with sites.google.com, which seems trustworthy as it resembles Google’s official root domain.

• The scam fools advertisers into entering their credentials and handing over their Google Ads account access to hackers.

You may want to peruse the following real-world example:

A fraudulent login page might look like this:

🔗 https://sites.google.com/view/google-ads-support-login

The page design closely resembles Google Ads’ login portal, complete with the Google logo, colors, and interface.

Unknowingly, advertisers enter their username, password, and even two-factor authentication (2FA) codes, allowing hackers to bypass security barriers effortlessly.

2. Fake Google Ads redirecting to phishing sites

With the risk of bursting your bubble of supposed safety, hackers are actually running their own Google Ads to bait unsuspecting advertisers.

Here’s how it works:

They bid on high-intent search terms like:

• “Google Ads login”
• “Google Ads support”

So, when you’re in a rush and type these into Google, you see an official-looking ad at the top of the search results. The headline might read something like:

~ “Google Ads Help – Resolve Issues Instantly”

https://ads.google.com (or so it seems…)

Looks legit, right? But here’s the catch: The moment you click, you’re sent to a phishing page instead of the real Google Ads login.

Instead of landing on ads.google.com, you’re redirected to:

https://sites.google.com/view/google-ads-recovery

Everything on the page looks exactly like Google’s login portal—same colors, same fonts, same branding. But it’s a trap.

The second you enter your credentials, hackers have full access to your account. One small misstep and your ad budget is in their hands.

3. Stealing your login credentials

Once on the phishing page, advertisers are asked to:

✅ Enter their Google Ads credentials

✅ Provide 2FA codes

Because hackers receive this information in real time, they can instantly bypass security and lock you out of your own account.

The result?

Your account is now their playground.

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What happens when hackers take over your Google Ads account?

Let’s be real—getting your Google Ads account hacked isn’t just a minor inconvenience. It’s a full-on disaster. Here’s what can happen if cybercriminals get their hands on your account:

🚨 Your budget vanishes into thin air

Hackers don’t just steal access—they steal your ad spend too. They launch shady ad campaigns promoting scams, malware, and phishing sites, burning through your budget like wildfire.

The worst part? Your brand is now linked to these scams. Customers see your name attached to fraudulent ads, and just like that, your credibility takes a hit.

💳 Hackers pay for their ads—With your money

Once inside your account, cybercriminals add their own payment details to keep the scam running. Even if you catch the fraud and shut things down, they may have already racked up a hefty bill in your name.

😨 Customer trust crumbles

Now imagine a potential customer clicking on one of those scam ads, thinking it’s from your business—only to get scammed or infected with malware. Who do you think they’ll blame?

You.

And in the digital world, trust is everything. Once it’s broken, it’s incredibly hard to win back.

How to protect your Google Ads account from hackers? Here are 14 best practices.

The good news? You don’t have to be a victim. Here’s how to fight back and keep your Google Ads account safe.

1. Always check the URL before logging in (Double-check, we suggest!)

Before entering your credentials, take two extra seconds to check the web address. Google’s official URLs always start with:

✅ https://ads.google.com

✅ https://accounts.google.com

If you see sites.google.com in the URL and it’s asking for your Google Ads login, run the other way! That’s a phishing scam waiting to happen.

2. Never click on “Google Ads Support” ads

If you need help with Google Ads, don’t trust ads claiming to be official support. Instead, go straight to Google’s Help Center:

https://support.google.com

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Even though hackers try to steal 2FA codes, keeping 2FA enabled makes it harder for them to break in. Use a trusted authenticator app rather than SMS for extra security.

4. Bookmark the real Google Ads login page

To avoid falling for fake login pages, bookmark the official Google Ads site. That way, you’ll never have to rely on search results (which hackers manipulate).

5. Train your team to spot scams

Your account security is only as strong as the least cautious person using it. Make sure your entire team knows how to:

✅ Spot phishing scams

✅ Recognize suspicious activity

✅ Verify URLs before logging in

In addition to these, we also recommend the following additional steps to keep hackers out.

6. Keep a close eye on account activity

A compromised account often shows small warning signs before a full-scale attack. To fix the chinks in the armor, before the rain leaks through the roof, it is important to regularly check:

✔️ Billing statements for unfamiliar charges

✔️ Account access logs to see if unknown users have logged in

7. Set up real-time security alerts

Google Ads allows you to receive instant email alerts for:

🔔 Changes to billing or payment settings

🔔 New users being added to your account

🔔 Unusual login attempts

If something looks off, act fast before hackers cause major damage.

8. Limit who has access to your Google Ads account

Not everyone on your team needs full control. We recommend using tiered permissions to minimize risk:

👤 Admin access: Only for trusted decision-makers

👥 Standard access: For campaign managers

👀 Viewer access: For those who just need reports

Simply said, fewer hands in your account equals less chance of unauthorized changes.

9. Secure the email linked to your Google Ads account

Your Google Ads account is tied to your email, so if hackers get into that, they have a free pass to everything.

✅ Turn on 2FA for your email

✅ Use a strong, unique password that’s not shared with other accounts

✅ Make sure only trusted users can access this email

10. Use Google’s Security Checkup tool

Google provides a built-in Security Checkup to help you spot vulnerabilities in your account. This tool can:

✔️ Review your current security settings

✔️ Suggest ways to strengthen your defenses

✔️ Flag any unusual third-party access

Run this checkup regularly to keep your account safe.

11. Be careful with third-party tools

Many businesses use third-party tools to manage campaigns, but some come with security risks. Therefore, it’s important to;

✅ Only integrate Google-approved tools

✅ Regularly check which apps have access to your account

✅ Revoke permissions for any tool you no longer use

12. Keep a backup of your account data

If your account ever gets hacked, having backups can save you time and money.

✔️ Export campaign data and performance reports regularly

✔️ Keep a record of billing info and payment methods

✔️ Store key information somewhere safe and secure

13. Review linked accounts & permissions

Your Google Ads account may be connected to other tools like:

• Google Analytics
• Google Tag Manager
• Third-party ad platforms

Make sure only authorized team members have access to these linked accounts. Hackers love backdoors!

14. Use Google Ads scripts to catch suspicious activity

Google Ads offers scripts that help detect and prevent fraud. One of the best is the Account Anomaly Detector.

This script helps by:

✅ Tracking sudden spikes in ad spend

✅ Identifying unusual clicks or bot activity

✅ Sending real-time alerts if it detects anything suspicious

Pro tip: Set up security scripts to automate monitoring so you can catch threats before they escalate.

Uh-oh, you’ve been hacked—Here’s how to take back control!

Even with all the precautions, hackers can still find a way in—and when they do, they move fast. If your Google Ads account has been compromised, don’t waste a second. Every minute means more lost money, more damage to your brand, and more mess to clean up later.

But don’t panic! Here’s your action plan to shut the hackers out and regain control ASAP.

1. Hit the kill switch—Pause all campaigns

First things first: STOP THE DAMAGE.

Hackers use stolen accounts to run fraudulent ads on your dime—so before you do anything else, head into your Google Ads dashboard and pause every single campaign.

Think of it like stopping a runaway train. The sooner you pull the brakes, the less damage they can do.

2. Call in reinforcements—Contact Google Ads Support

Now that you’ve stopped your budget from bleeding out, it’s time to bring in the experts.

Go straight to Google Ads Support and report the breach.

Why? Because Google can:

✔️ Block unauthorized access before the hacker does more damage.

✔️ Help recover lost funds (if possible).

✔️ Restore your account to a secure state.

🔥 Pro tip: If you can, get on a live chat or phone call. The faster you speak to an actual human, the quicker you can regain control.

3. Kick the hackers out—Remove any suspicious users

Hackers are sneaky. Once they get into your account, they often add themselves as admins—so even if you change your password, they still have control.

Here’s how to check:

• Go to Tools & Settings in your Google Ads dashboard.
• Click Account Access & Security.
• Look for any unfamiliar users and immediately revoke their access.

💡 If you see an email you don’t recognize, that’s probably your hacker. Kick them out—NOW.

4. Change the locks—Reset your password & 2FA

Now that the hacker is out, you need to make sure they stay out.

• Change your Google Ads password—make it long, unique, and never used before.
• Update your Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) settings. If you were using SMS-based 2FA, switch to an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy for better security.

🔥 Pro tip: If the hacker got into your Google Ads, there’s a chance they also accessed your email. Reset that password also—because if they control your email, they can reset your Ads password and lock you out all over again.

5. Check your billing—Make sure you’re not paying for their scam

Hackers don’t just want access—they want free ad spend.

Go to your Google Ads billing settings and check for:

• New payment methods you didn’t add.
• Suspicious transactions or abnormally high ad spend.
• Billing emails from Google that you don’t recognize.

💡 If you find fraudulent charges, we recommend:

✔️ Calling your bank or credit card provider and dispute them immediately.

✔️ Notifying Google Ads support because they may be able to help reverse the damage.

The road ahead

If you are worried about fraudulent clicks and fake conversions eating into your PMax campaign budget, you might want to read ~ How to Fight The Silent Threat to Your PMAX Campaigns: Fake Clicks and Fraudulent Conversions.