Google Ads suspensions can instantly shut down revenue, especially when the reason is Malicious Software or Compromised Site. In this detailed case study, I’m sharing how my team and I successfully recovered a Google Ads account that was fully suspended due to malicious software violations—and how you can avoid the same mistake.
This is a real-world Google Ads suspension recovery case study, involving a Shopify website, repeated ad disapprovals, compromised site flags, and a carefully documented appeal that led to full account reactivation.
Background: Google Ads Suspension for Malicious Software
The client received an email from Google stating:
“Your Google Ads account has been suspended for violating the Malicious Software policy. Suspended accounts cannot run ads in any location.”
What started as multiple ad disapprovals eventually escalated into a full account suspension. Unfortunately, the client was unaware that repeated disapprovals—if not fixed properly—can lead to permanent suspension.
Key Account Details
- Platform: Shopify
- Theme Used: Ella Theme
- Violation Type: Malicious Software → Compromised Site
- Ad History: Multiple repeated disapprovals
Why Google Ads Suspensions Escalate
One of the biggest misconceptions advertisers have is assuming ad disapprovals are harmless. In reality:
- Repeated disapprovals signal systemic compliance issues
- Google may flag the domain as compromised
- This can escalate into malicious software violations
- Eventually, the entire Google Ads account gets suspended
If not handled correctly, this can further lead to Circumventing Systems or Egregious Policy Violations, which are far harder to recover from.
Step 1: Deep Website & Security Audit
We immediately began a full technical and compliance audit, both manually and using industry-grade tools.
Technical Fixes Implemented
- Shopify
robots.txtcorrections - Google Search Console security errors resolved
- Removal of unnecessary redirects and external links
- Manual review of theme source code
- Popup scripts disabled (a hidden cause of malware flags)
We also ran 160+ internal compliance checkpoints covering:
- Google Ads
- Google Merchant Center
- Google Business Profile
Step 2: Malware & Vulnerability Scanning
To ensure complete compliance, the website was scanned using multiple independent tools:
- SiteLock Professional Security Scan
- Sucuri Malware Scanner
- VirusTotal
- PC Risk Malware Detection
- Google Transparency Report
Results:
- ✅ No malware detected
- ✅ No SQL injection vulnerabilities
- ✅ No cross-site scripting (XSS)
- ✅ No malicious redirects
- ✅ No unsafe content
All reports confirmed the website was 100% clean and secure.
Step 3: Hosting & Platform Verification
We contacted Shopify Support and the hosting provider directly to validate the security status.
Confirmed by Shopify:
- Website not compromised
- SSL certificate active and valid
- Secure customer connections
We included chat transcripts and confirmations as part of the appeal documentation.
Step 4: Server-Level Security Hardening
Additional security measures were applied:
- Fresh SSL & TLS certificates
- Two-factor authentication for control panel
- Directory privacy on sensitive folders
- No active Git repositories
- No external backdoor access
Server logs confirmed:
- No recent web server errors
- No suspicious events
Step 5: Compliance Pages & Trust Signals
To strengthen policy trust, we added and optimized key pages:
- About Us
- Contact Us
- Accessibility Statement
- Privacy Policy
- Cookie Policy
- Refund & Return Policy
- Shipping Policy
- Billing Terms
- Disclaimer
- Do Not Sell My Information
- Warranty Policy
These pages are critical trust signals for Google Ads compliance, especially for eCommerce websites.
Step 6: Content, UX & Product Alignment Audit
Beyond security, we audited the entire funnel:
- UI/UX inconsistencies
- Landing page clarity
- Checkout functionality
- Product feed alignment with Google Merchant Center
- Pricing and SKU consistency
- Social media & brand identity checks
Even small mismatches can trigger suspensions when combined with previous violations.
Step 7: Waiting for Google Cache Update (Critical Step)
A mistake many advertisers make is appealing too early.
Even after fixing issues:
- Google Search Console cache must update
- Transparency reports must refresh
- Security signals must reindex
We waited until all signals showed clean status before submitting the appeal.
Step 8: The Google Ads Appeal (What We Submitted)
We sent a highly detailed appeal to the Google Ads Policy Team, including:
- Full remediation summary
- Security hardening steps
- Malware scan reports (PDFs)
- Hosting & Shopify confirmations
- Google Transparency screenshots
- Ongoing monitoring strategy
We also requested specific URLs or scripts if Google detected any remaining issues.
Final Result: Google Ads Account Reactivated 🎉
After review, we received the email:
“Great news! Your appeal was successful. Based on your detailed appeal, your account has been reactivated.”
Outcome:
- ✅ Suspension removed
- ✅ Ads resumed within 24 hours
- ✅ Account fully operational
Live proof inside Google Ads confirmed the account was unsuspended and running again.
Key Takeaways for Advertisers
- Repeated ad disapprovals can lead to suspension
- Malicious software flags are not always real malware
- Shopify websites are not immune to policy violations
- Appeals require technical proof, not assumptions
- Timing your appeal is just as important as fixing issues
Need Help with Google Ads Suspension?
I help businesses recover from:
- Google Ads account suspensions
- Malicious software & compromised site violations
- Google Merchant Center suspensions
- Google Ads disapprovals & audits
I’m a Google Partner and have successfully restored multiple suspended accounts.
👉 Hire me & my team: Link in description
If this case study helped you, feel free to reach out or explore more Google Ads resources on AliRaza.co.
Written by Ali Raza – Google Ads Certified & Google Partner
