Worried About the Google Hack? Our Omnichannel SEO Agency Can Help

Recent reports about a massive Google-related data leak have, rightfully, left many feeling uneasy. More than a hundred million compromised login credentials (including Gmail accounts) is, at the risk of understatement, disquieting, to say the least. At our omnichannel digital marketing and SEO agency in Los Angeles, we do more than just marketing – we provide online security, too. 

Your website, your marketing data, and your customer information are invaluable assets—and protecting them is every bit as important as promoting them.

These are some ways that you can protect yourself and your business. If you want further protection or to learn more, reach out. 

What Happened: The Google Hack

The “Have I Been Pwned” database, a trusted resource that tracks leaked credentials, found that there was a hack.  According to Forbes and others, key details include:

• Over 183 million account credentials were found in this dataset.

• The data originated from “infostealer logs” and “credential stuffing lists,” not directly from Google’s own servers.

• Many Gmail users were affected. Compromised credentials were gathered from multiple breaches over time.

• Cybercriminals now have an updated list of usernames and passwords. With these, they can attempt across platforms, increasing the risk of unauthorized access.

Even though Google itself wasn’t hacked, the danger lies in how this data can be reused elsewhere. This is especially true if you’ve ever reused a password or linked multiple accounts to the same email.

Steps You Can Take Right Now to Protect Your Business

A breach like this can result in financial loss, data exposure, and long-term reputational harm. Being proactive matters. We recommend that you:

1. Strengthen Access Controls

Your first line of defense is how you manage and protect access to your systems.

• Require Strong Passwords:
  Enforce complex password rules—long phrases with mixed characters, numbers, and symbols.

• Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
  Add a second layer of security (e.g., an SMS code or authentication app). Even stolen passwords become useless.

• Limit User Permissions:
  Give each team member access only to the data they truly need. Audit these permissions regularly. Especially do so when roles change.

• Use Access Management Tools:
  We help clients integrate secure login management systems that simplify credential control while maintaining security.

2. Educate and Empower Your Team

Your employees are your most important cybersecurity asset, but only if they’re trained properly. With that in mind, you should: 

• Security Awareness Sessions:
  We help businesses design effective training to teach staff how to spot phishing, scams, and malicious links. With these, a little bit goes a long way.

• Establish Clear Reporting Channels:
  Make it easy for employees to quickly report suspicious activity. Fast responses can stop attacks in their tracks.

At our SEO agency in Los Angeles, we often incorporate cybersecurity education into what we communicate to the client. It’s one more way we can get the most for our clients out of marketing performance tools and data safety protocols.

3. Secure Your Digital Infrastructure

Your website and digital platforms are, in a very real way, your brand. Keeping them secure protects your visibility and your customers’ trust: 

• Update Everything:
  Regularly patch your CMS (like WordPress), plugins, themes, and operating systems. Outdated software is one of the top entry points for hackers.

• Choose a Secure Host:
  Partner with a host that offers malware scanning, DDoS protection, and daily backups. We can help.

• Back Up Data Regularly:
  Automate daily or weekly backups and store them securely off-site.

• Install an SSL Certificate:
  HTTPS isn’t just a ranking factor—it’s essential for encrypting user data and building trust.

Our web design and development pros can help ensure every client’s site includes modern encryption standards and security monitoring tools.

How Website Depot Can Both Protect and Grow Your Business

The recent hack underscores a truth we’ve long emphasized: security and SEO are interconnected. Google prioritizes safe, trustworthy websites. So, our omnichannel approach integrates marketing growth with digital protection.

Here’s how we help:

1. Secure Website Development

• Our Los Angeles web design pros build with security-first frameworks to defend against SQL injection, brute-force attacks, and malware.

• We conduct ongoing security audits and maintenance to catch vulnerabilities early.

• We can make sure your site includes SSL implementation, encrypted forms, and backup solutions, among other security measures.

2. Comprehensive Security Audits

• We examine your website, hosting, plugins, and connected apps for weak points.

• Our team reviews user access levels, password protocols, and potential exposure points.

• After each audit, we provide an actionable plan to fix vulnerabilities while improving your site’s performance and SEO structure.

3. Secure Marketing Data Management

• Marketing analytics tools often store valuable customer information. We help ensure that your data pipelines—Google Analytics, ad platforms, and CRMs—are configured safely.

• We implement access-based control for marketing accounts, reducing the risk of unauthorized ad spend or data loss.

When you partner with Website Depot, your marketing ecosystem is not only effective—it’s resilient.

Stay Ahead of Threats and Trends

Cyber threats evolve daily—and so does our strategy. By staying informed and proactive, we help our clients through: 

• Continuous Monitoring: We track emerging security issues affecting marketing tools and CMS platforms.

• Timely Updates: Our clients benefit from regular site reviews and updates to stay compliant with the latest standards.

• SEO-Integrated Recovery Plans: If your business suffers a breach or downtime, we help restore your site quickly and protect your SEO rankings from dropping.

What to Keep in Mind About Hacks 

After a breach like this, many businesses panic. They start a flurry of changing passwords, patching systems, and hoping it’s enough. Instead, we offer a holistic solution: 

• Peace of Mind: We handle the technical details so you can focus on running your business.

• A Trusted Partner: As a long-standing SEO agency in Los Angeles, we’ve helped businesses recover from attacks, rebuild their presence, and come back stronger.

• Future-Proof Security: Nothing’s foolproof, but, our strategies can grow your brand while reinforcing its digital armor.

An SEO Agency in Los Angeles to Protect and Grow With 

Security isn’t a one-time action. Security is a commitment. Your info must be secure every day and every night. The Google hack is a harsh reminder that digital growth and digital safety must go hand in hand.

If you’re worried about your online security or simply want to strengthen your digital presence, Website Depot can help. 

Schedule a free consultation today to see how our omnichannel digital marketing and SEO agency in Los Angeles can help.