Google Search Advocate John Mueller clarified how Google Search Console's URL Removals tool handles hacked URLs in a comment on r/SEO: it hides affected pages quickly but does not delete them from Google's index. The guidance addressed a site hit by a Japanese keyword hack.
Google clarifies how the URL Removals tool works
Mueller recommended submitting requests in Search Console for both individual URLs and URL prefixes that share the same start. Hidden results typically take effect within about a day. The tool changes search visibility only, not index storage.
He added that pages returning HTTP 404 are removed from the index over time. Redirects are acceptable, but a 404 is the correct response when content is gone. He suggested checking the Search Console Performance report after 24 hours to confirm changes.
Key details
- Source: John Mueller, Google Search Advocate, commenting on r/SEO.
- Topic: Cleanup of hacked URLs from a Japanese keyword hack incident.
- Recommendation: Use Search Console's Removals tool for specific URLs and shared URL prefixes.
- Effect: The tool hides results in search but does not delete them from the index.
- Timing: Hidden results generally take effect within about one day.
- Indexing: URLs that return HTTP 404 are removed from the index over time.
- Technical note: Redirects are acceptable, with 404 preferred when content is removed.
- Monitoring: Review the Performance report after 24 hours.
Background context
A Reddit user reported a Japanese keyword hack that generated many Japanese-language URLs. The site was cleaned, leaving 404 responses on the removed pages. Some of those URLs continued to appear in search results.
In the thread, the user asked how to clean up remaining URLs in Google Search. Google's Removals tool provides temporary hiding of URLs from search. Permanent removal occurs once Google confirms the page no longer exists or is blocked from indexing.
Source citations
- John Mueller's Reddit comment on r/SEO: view the comment
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)