Request Reconsideration from Google for a Hacked Website

December 9, 2010

If your website has been hacked and the hack causes your website to violate Google's quality guidelines your website may be removed from Google's search index. This typically occurs if the hacker hides spam pages or spam links using hidden text or cloaking. If Google has removed the website they will place a "Notice of Suspected Hacking" message in their Webmaster Tools indicating that this has been done. In some cases Google may detect that the website has been hacked they may place a warning message in their search results ("This site may be compromised.") instead of removing it from the index. Once you have cleaned up the hack you need to file a reconsideration request to get the website back into the index or have the warning message removed.

  1. Sign into the Google Webmaster Tools with your Google Account, if you don't have a Google Account create an account by following the "Create an account now" link on the page.
  2. Click on "Add a site..." button, type in the URL of your website and the click the "Continue" button.
  3. You will then be giving the choice to verify your website with a Meta tag, HTML file, or DNS record. Select which verification method you want to use. Place the verification Meta tag, HTML file, or DNS record on your website. Then click the "Verify" button.
  4. Go to https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/reconsideration.
  5. In the drop down box under the text "Requesting reconsideration of:" select your website.
  6. Click the checkbox "By submitting this request, I acknowledge that:".
  7. In the text box explain that your website was hacked and that you have cleaned it up.
  8. Click the "Request reconsideration" button.
  9. Once the reconsideration request has been processed by Google, a confirmation message will be left in the Message Center in Webmaster Tools.

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