Overview

Micromed, a healthcare technology company, approached us after their Google Ads account was hit with a “Compromised Site” policy violation. This sudden disapproval of their campaigns halted all ad traffic and severely impacted lead generation.

The Problem

Google flagged multiple landing page URLs including, the main homepage https://www.micromedcharts.com & the ads were redirected to the same. However, Google flagged multiple landing page URLs which were not included in the ads,

• https://landing.micromedcharts.com/
  
• https://landing.micromedcharts.com/#products
  
• https://landing.micromedcharts.com/#contactus
  

The warning indicated that these pages potentially hosted malware or harmful content, and were linked to unsafe browsing experiences. The ads were automatically disapproved, with a 403 error listed in diagnostics and recommendations.

Diagnosis

Upon a deep investigation, we discovered:

• Malicious code snippets injected via outdated plugins.
  
• The landing.micromedcharts.com was down, but not removed from the directory. Hence the first step was to remove this landing page.
  
• Faulty .htaccess file causing misconfigurations.
  
• Incorrect directory permissions that posed a potential vulnerability.
  
• Site URLs returning 403 errors due to access issues or security rules.
  
• When we performed a safe search test and tested in google search console – the main website was found safe.

Screenshots attached below for Reference 

The Solution

We took the following steps to restore the website’s integrity and re-enable the ad campaigns:

1. Website Cleanup
   Collaborated with Micromed’s IT team and hosting provider to:
   
   • Remove injected malware and suspicious scripts.
     
   • Update or remove vulnerable plugins.
     
   • Reset .htaccess to a clean configuration.
     
2. Technical Fixes
   
   • Fixed directory permissions.
     
   • Ensured all landing page URLs were functional and publicly accessible.
     
   • Verified the site’s status using Google Search Console to confirm malware removal.
     
3. Google Ads Resubmission
   
   • Edited and resubmitted the disapproved ads manually.
     
   • Monitored the “Policy Manager” under Google Ads to track review progress.
     
   • Appealed the disapproval using the built-in support and AI appeal features.
     

The Result

Within 24 hours, Google Ads confirmed that the flagged URLs were safe and reinstated the previously disapproved ads. All campaigns were successfully reactivated, restoring Micromed’s ad visibility and inbound leads.

Key Takeaways

• Regular website maintenance and security audits are critical when running paid campaigns.
  
• A disapproved ad doesn’t mean you’re blocked forever—understanding Google’s policies and executing timely action is key.
  
• Collaborating with tech teams and acting swiftly can turn a major issue into a small hiccup.