Have you ever received an email (see below) from Google saying that your Adwords ads have stopped running?
BEWARE! This email could be spam. Clicking on the link next to the light bulb could load dangerous malware onto your computer. Rather than clicking on the link in the email, login directly to google.com/adwords and check everything out.
I suspect my client unknowingly clicked on the email link. She received the email and did what anyone would do, click on the link and figure out what's going on. She logged in and saw that everything was fine. Only right after that did Google really stop the ads and suspend the account because they detected the account had been compromised.
What to do if it's too late and you already clicked on the link:
Login to Adwords, click on help and locate the content on account problems. Submit a request to investigate what's happening with your account. I got a response within 24 hours and a Google rep said they were looking into it. A day after that is when they told me the account had been comprised with a certain login (there are multiple logins/users) email.
Google requested that my client change their password and run a malware scan on the computer before they would reactivate the account.
Here's additional security information sent to me via Google email:
TIPS ON ACCOUNT SECURITY
You can protect yourself from unauthorized account access in the future by following these tips:
I. Phishing Prevention
1. Don't reply to, or click links within, emails that ask for personal, financial, or account information.
2. Check the message headers. The 'From:' address and the 'Return-path'
should reference the same source.
3. Instead of clicking the links in emails, go to the websites directly by typing the web address into your browser, cut and paste, or use bookmarks.
4. If on a secure page, look for "https" at the beginning of the URL and the padlock icon in the browser.
5. Use a browser that has a phishing filter (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 7 or later, Safari, or Opera).
6. Use strong passwords. A strong password should be unique; include letters, numbers, and symbols; and be changed regularly.
7. If you ever need to change your account information, such as your billing details or your password, you should always sign in to your account from the main AdWords login page (https://adwords.google.com) and make the changes directly within your account. For more information on changing your username and password, read our Help Center article at http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=24828.
II. Malware Prevention
1. Keep your computer's antivirus and antispyware software, browser, and security patches up to date.
2. Regularly run system scans.
3. Exercise caution whenever you're prompted to download an email attachment, follow an instant-message link, install a plug-in, or download an unfamiliar piece of software. Remember that crimeware can be disguised to resemble anti-virus software. Always research a company's reputation before downloading its software or visiting its website.
III. Unauthorized Login Prevention
1. Secure and encrypt your wireless network.
2. Don't leave your computer unattended. If you're using a public terminal, make sure you log out of all your accounts before you leave.
3. Assign a separate login to each user. Don't share logins and passwords.
4. Always grant the lowest access level necessary to each login email.
If you have additional questions, please visit our Help Center at http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/, where you'll find answers to many frequently asked questions. We look forward to providing you with the most effective advertising available.
Hope this post saves you some headache.
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