Highlights

• Account takeovers usually start with a stolen password, not a technical exploit — human error is the real entry point.
• Two-step verification (2SV) is the single most effective control, but it isn’t foolproof against every attack method.
• Google Ads now surfaces a dedicated security summary inside the “Access and Security” tab, making gaps easier to spot.
• Passkeys are becoming the stronger alternative to passwords and SMS codes for high-value ad accounts.
• Reviewing user access levels regularly prevents former employees or vendors from holding onto admin rights.
• Fast, calm action after a suspected breach limits both financial and reputational damage.

Strengthen Your Google Ads Account Security: Protect Against Account Takeovers

Picture this: a marketing manager logs in on a Monday morning and finds the daily ad spend has quietly jumped from $200 to $4,000 overnight. New campaigns are running — ones nobody on the team created — pointing to unfamiliar websites. By the time anyone notices, the budget is already gone.

This isn’t a rare horror story swapped between agency owners at conferences. Google Ads accounts are attractive targets precisely because they’re connected to a payment method and can spend money automatically, at scale, without anyone physically approving each transaction. A compromised account isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a direct line to your bank account.

The good news is that most takeovers aren’t the result of some sophisticated, unstoppable hack. They usually come down to a handful of preventable gaps: weak passwords, missing verification steps, outdated recovery information, or too many people holding admin access they don’t actually need. Let’s walk through how to close those gaps.

Why Google Ads Accounts Are a Target

Attackers don’t need to “hack” Google’s systems — they just need your login credentials. Once inside, they can launch fraudulent campaigns, redirect existing campaigns to malicious sites, or simply drain your budget as fast as possible before anyone notices.

Common ways accounts get compromised include:

• Phishing emails disguised as Google Ads notifications, invoices, or policy warnings
• Fake “team member” invitations that trick someone into granting access to an outside account
• Password reuse, where credentials leaked in an unrelated data breach are tried against Google Ads logins
• Malware or infostealers on a team member’s device that capture saved passwords or active login sessions
• Third-party tool integrations that request more account access than they actually need

None of these require breaking Google’s infrastructure. They rely on someone on your team clicking the wrong link, reusing a password, or leaving a door open a little too wide.

Step 1: Turn On Two-Step Verification (2SV) for Everyone

If you take away one action item from this article, make it this one. Two-step verification requires a second piece of proof — a code from an authenticator app, a security key, or a prompt on your phone — in addition to your password.

Google strongly encourages advertisers to enable this, and for good reason: even if a password is stolen or guessed, 2SV means the attacker still can’t get in without that second factor.

How to set it up:

1. Go to your Google Ads account and open the Admin menu.
2. Select Access and Security, then the Security tab.
3. Under “Verification during sign-in,” choose 2-Step Verification and turn it on.
4. Choose an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) rather than relying solely on SMS — app-based codes and hardware keys are harder to intercept than text messages.

Apply this to every single user with access to the account — not just the account owner. One unprotected login is all it takes.

A worthwhile caveat: 2SV blocks password-only attacks, but it isn’t a silver bullet. More advanced phishing techniques can attempt to capture both your password and your active session in real time. That’s exactly why the next layer matters.

Step 2: Add Passkeys as an Extra Layer

Passkeys are quickly becoming the recommended upgrade over passwords and even traditional 2FA codes. Instead of typing anything, you approve sign-in with your device’s fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN, tied to encrypted credentials stored on your device.

Because there’s no password or code to trick you into typing, passkeys are far more resistant to phishing attempts, including the “fake invite” and lookalike-login-page tricks that catch out even security-conscious teams. If your Google account supports passkey setup, it’s worth doing this for anyone with admin-level access to your ads account, not just for convenience but as a genuine layer of protection against the sneakier attack methods 2FA alone doesn’t fully stop.

Step 3: Keep Recovery Information Current

It’s easy to set up recovery details once and forget about them — until you actually need them. If your recovery phone number is disconnected or your backup email hasn’t been checked in two years, you could lock yourself out of your own account during an actual emergency.

Do this quarterly:

• Confirm your recovery phone number is active and reachable
• Verify your backup email address still works and is checked regularly
• Make sure recovery information isn’t tied to a former employee’s device or inbox

One detail worth remembering: changes to recovery information can take several days to fully apply across Google’s systems, so don’t wait until you’re mid-crisis to update these details.

Step 4: Limit Who Has Access — and What They Can Do

Not everyone on your team needs the keys to the whole account. Google Ads lets you assign different access levels, and using them properly limits the damage if any single login is ever compromised.

Typical access tiers include:

• Admin access — full control, including billing and user management
• Standard access — can create and edit campaigns, but not manage billing or users
• Read-only access — can view performance data without making changes
• Email-only access — receives reports without logging into the account

A simple, sustainable rule: grant admin access only to the people who genuinely need it — usually one or two internal leads — and give everyone else the minimum level required to do their job. Freelancers, agencies, and interns should almost never need admin rights.

Just as important: review this list regularly. When someone leaves the company or an agency relationship ends, revoke their access immediately rather than assuming it’ll “get cleaned up eventually.”

Step 5: Audit Connected Apps and Manager Account Links

Many Google Ads accounts are connected to third-party tools — bid management platforms, reporting dashboards, automation scripts — through API access or manager account (MCC) links. Each connection is a potential entry point if that third-party tool is ever compromised.

Periodically check:

• Which external tools and manager accounts have access to your Google Ads account
• Whether each connection is still actively used
• Whether the access level granted matches what the tool actually needs

If you’re a larger organization with a manager account overseeing multiple sub-accounts, Google Ads allows administrators to enforce minimum security requirements — like mandatory 2SV — across every account underneath it. This is worth setting up once so you’re not chasing individual users later.

Step 6: Use Google Ads’ Built-In Security Alerts

Google Ads has a dedicated section within Access and Security that surfaces outstanding security tasks — things like unenrolled users, unreviewed domains, or missing passkeys — in one place. It’s not a replacement for the steps above, but it’s a useful periodic check-in to catch anything you might have missed.

Set a recurring reminder (monthly is reasonable for small teams, more frequent for agencies managing multiple client accounts) to open this section and clear any outstanding items.

What to Do If Your Account Is Already Compromised

If you suspect unauthorized access — unfamiliar campaigns, a spend spike, or login alerts you didn’t trigger — act quickly and methodically:

1. Run a malware scan on every device that has accessed the account, since infostealer malware is a common source of leaked credentials.
2. Change your Google Account password immediately, along with any other account where you’ve reused that password.
3. Enable 2-Step Verification if it wasn’t already active, on both your core Google Account and Google Ads.
4. Review recent account activity and user list for unfamiliar campaigns, billing changes, or newly added users, and remove anything you don’t recognize.
5. Contact Google Ads support to report the compromise and get guidance on billing disputes if fraudulent spend occurred.

Staying calm and working through these steps in order gets you back in control faster than panicking or making rushed changes.

Key Takeaways

• Most Google Ads account takeovers start with stolen credentials, not sophisticated technical exploits.
• Two-step verification is the baseline protection every user on the account should have enabled.
• Passkeys add meaningful protection against phishing attacks that can bypass password-and-code logins.
• Keep recovery phone numbers and emails current — outdated recovery details can lock you out during a real emergency.
• Assign the minimum access level each user actually needs, and review that list on a regular schedule.
• Regularly audit third-party tools and manager account connections tied to your Google Ads account.
• If you suspect a breach, scan for malware, change passwords, enable 2SV, and contact Google Ads support promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know if my Google Ads account has been hacked?

   Watch for warning signs like unexpected spend spikes, unfamiliar campaigns or ads you didn’t create, new users you don’t recognize, or login alerts for sign-ins you didn’t initiate. Checking your account activity and billing history regularly helps you catch these early.

2. Is two-factor authentication enough to fully protect my Google Ads account?

   It significantly reduces risk by stopping password-only attacks, but it isn’t absolute protection. Some advanced phishing methods attempt to capture both your password and active session. Pairing 2SV with passkeys, strong access controls, and regular account reviews offers stronger, layered protection.

3. Should I give my ad agency admin access to my Google Ads account?

   Generally, no. Most agencies only need Standard access to manage campaigns effectively. Reserve Admin access for internal stakeholders who need to manage billing and user permissions directly.

4. What should I do if I clicked a suspicious link related to Google Ads?

   Immediately run a malware scan on the device, change your Google Account password, and enable 2-Step Verification if it isn’t already active. Monitor your Google Ads account closely for a few days for any unauthorized changes.

5. How often should I review who has access to my Google Ads account?

   A quarterly review is a reasonable minimum for most businesses. Agencies or larger teams managing multiple accounts may benefit from monthly reviews, and access should always be revoked immediately when someone leaves a role rather than waiting for the next scheduled check.

Conclusion

Google Ads account security isn’t about one perfect setting you turn on and forget — it’s an ongoing habit of closing small gaps before someone else finds them. Two-step verification, passkeys, current recovery information, tightly managed access levels, and periodic audits of connected tools each address a different weak point attackers rely on. None of these steps take more than a few minutes to implement, but together they make your account a far less appealing target. Build them into a regular routine, and you’ll spend far less time worrying about takeovers — and more time focused on the campaigns actually worth your attention.