Google Ads Cracks Down on Free Email Access for Sensitive Actions

Google Ads has started testing a new security feature that restricts free domain email addresses from performing sensitive actions on an advertiser account. This change is part of Google's efforts to enhance account security and minimize the impact of unauthorized access.

The test, which is currently being piloted for a subset of advertisers, will only allow users with corporate emails to perform sensitive actions such as account linking updates and user access changes. Free domain email addresses, including those from @gmail.com or @yahoo.com, will be restricted from completing these actions.

Users who attempt to perform sensitive actions with a free domain email will receive an in-app prompt instructing them to switch to an authorized corporate email domain before completing the action. The company has also introduced Multi-Party Approval (MPA) for accounts with 3 or more active administrators, requiring another administrator's approval before adding new users or modifying administrator privileges.

This change is likely a response to the recent wave of Google Ads account hijacks, and aims to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive areas of an advertiser's account. However, it remains to be seen how this will affect advertisers who rely on free domain email addresses for their Google Ads accounts.