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Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

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Re: Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

#41

Post by janalsncm »

Hogg wrote: post #9

I'd bet just about anything that Google uses machine learning to decide whether or not to trust a site for ads. It seems like the only solution that would work at a large enough scale to handle that kind of demand (versus more defined but more labor- and resource-intensive malware/fraud detections). I think that also explains why the review process seems so arbitrary and ineffective - in essence, not even Google know…

> It seems like the only solution that would work at a large enough scale to handle that kind of demand

It doesn’t work. These automated systems are flagging a (presumably) benign site and an article yesterday regarding their $5M lawsuit for running a scam ad on their SERP for “Coinbase support” suggest the automated systems can be bypassed too.

I’m not saying automated detection can’t be a part of it, but we shouldn’t accept companies automating away decision making as if computer-derived errors are acceptable.

The larger point is that Google isn’t exactly strapped for cash. They could hire an army of reviewers. They just don’t.

Re: Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

#42

Post by madjam002 »

buffer1337 wrote: post #40

I am struggling with this problem also. After several failed attempts at appeals, they also suspended a family member's ads account saying they were detected as related to me. Have resorted to paying thousands of dollars for google un-suspension services. Have never knowingly broke any google rule ever.

Sorry to hear that, what service are you using if you don't mind me asking?

Re: Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

#43

Post by madjam002 »

busymichael wrote: post #34
madjam002 wrote: post #8

One thing I thought it could be is I use PostHog for analytics / heat map recording, but I tried completely removing it and they still rejected it.

It looks like you still have rrweb running. Have you tried removing that?

I've readded it since removing it entirely because I haven't got anywhere with Google

Re: Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

#44

Post by thephyber »

naïve ideas:

- domain reputation - ip address reputation - hot linked image/css/js from a malware-flagged domain - possibly the domain is highly correlated with a malware / SEO clout ring (a group of other domains specifics used to try and game whatever benefit PageRank may still have)

When I maintained a social media site, we had lots of users hotlink to random websites that hosted an image they wanted to display. If the hotlinked host/domain got flagged as Malware hosting, our user’s page (on our domain) would also get flagged. Note: this was Google Chrome’s malware detection, not AdWords, but it may be relevant info.

Re: Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

#45

Post by _blk »

These stories reappear every now and then here. I remember my startup's domain was blocked by Microsoft Ads (.us TLD). Couldn't even appeal their decision but as a startup David you're rarely gonna go against Goliath and just pick another battle.

A friend's gym, freedomfit.us, a now two year old domain that SSLTrust.com.au lists as clean still seems to hit issues with some people. They moved to another domain, ff-wp.com on another hoster but that didn't help their issues with some people that still can't access it. That makes me wonder if associativity by content is viral to the new domains - from a malware-spreading perspective that would of course make sense but I could imagine this doing more harm than good.

If anyone has insights on best ways to establish trust new domains/startups, I'm sure the crowd would appreciate your time and insights. What I'm doing so far, is trying to manually categorize/list the URLs with the dominant firewall/antivirus vendors, but it's a lengthy manual process and I'm not sure of the benefits either.

Re: Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

#46

Post by chias »

> Their latest feedback after appealing suggests I change from a .co.uk to .com to resolve the issue

I wonder if what they take issue with is that propertyengine.co.uk and propertyengine.com are different businesses.

I mean it doesn't make a lot of sense to take issue with that, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it ended up being.

Re: Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

#47

Post by blitzar »

pembrook wrote: post #13

Hate to say it, but unless this post gets traction or you have a huge social media following and can successfully go viral while calling them out — nothing will happen. Tons of Google products are going haywire right now and it’s clear nobody at the Monopoly money machine is at the wheel or even cares. Google search console was down for multiple days recently. If you check your Gmail spam folder, you’ll see lots of l…

I have (legitimate) emails from google sat in my gmail spam ...

Re: Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

#48

Post by blitzar »

madjam002 wrote: post #23
swatcoder wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's plausible that it's being naively flagged as something like phishing/misrepresentation of the ".com" site using that name.

Hmm possibly, good idea. That's a different company based in SA in a different space, but maybe you're right.

Buy uk.com or uk.com and redirect.

(and probably buy the .co.uk as well for the full set)

Re: Ask HN: Google Ads Rejected My SaaS as Compromised Site

#50

Post by neilfrndes »

madjam002 wrote: post #19
neilfrndes wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of my site got flagged as a Compromised Site by Google. I used Posthog on that site as well!

Was it flagged as Compromised Site on Google Ads or actually blocked in Chrome (Google Safe Search)?

Blocked in Chrome.
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