Negative SEO Case Study – Cleaning Up an Attack with Ahrefs

Begin with a focused Ahrefs backlink audit today to identify the attack footprint and set cleanup in motion. The report refers to suspicious activity that hackers used to push spammy links, showing which backlinks were done, which domains were controlled, and which anchors were involved. This helps you understand the scope, who was involved, and the right removals or disavows to apply first.

Steps to take next: export the full backlink profile with Ahrefs; identify backlinks from domains that refer to the attack window; flag each backlink candidate that triggers suspicion; verify whether they were created by hackers or automated tools; prepare a report for stakeholders; remove links when possible or add to a disavow file; request a recrawl so changes reflect; set up alerts to catch new suspicious activity; monitor metrics weekly to see if signals improve again; note whether numbers changed between crawls.

After cleanup, measure progress with concrete metrics: the number of referring domains hosting toxic backlinks should drop; the share of anchors from spam should narrow; traffic and rankings often rebound after the cleanup. Use Ahrefs to compare before and after snapshots with this data and report to stakeholders; the data helps people understand the impact and justify ongoing monitoring. This clear view reduces confusion and guides the next steps again.

Documentation and training: include videot that illustrate the exact steps, from identifying suspicious links to submitting a disavow file. In this case study, the team used videot and screen captures to show the process and to train people on what to look for. The practical clips boost confidence and speed for future responses.

With the cleanup complete, start a reconsideration of inbound link strategy: audit ongoing sources, stop accepting low-quality votes, and establish a cadence for monthly checks; ensure the right teams review incoming links and that alerts refer to high-risk patterns. This reduces risk and keeps sites safe from repeat attacks.

Step-by-step cleanup with practical actions

Export the full backlink report and immediately prepare a disavow file for links that trigger harmful signals and risk a penalty.

1. Backlink inventory and types: Export backlinks from Ahrefs, categorize by types (dofollow, nofollow, branded, generic), and flag links that look harmful. This shows where the impacts could come from and what to address first, helping you decide the order of removal. The goal is to produce a clear, actionable list for the team.
2. Outreach and removal requests: For high-risk backlinks, craft concise outreach messages requesting removal; keep a log of responses and act without delay. If removal is not possible, add the URL to the disavow file to secure the backlink profile.
3. Disavow file and processing: Build a disavow file listing domains and specific URLs; submit via Google Search Console; monitor the processing of the request and verify that the harmful backlinks are gone from the active profile. Update the report to reflect the clean subset and its trajectory.
4. On-site cleanup and patches: Clean up thin or duplicate content; fix broken links and redirects; secure your site by updating core, plugins, and themes; apply patches and monitor for new spammy comments. This reduces perceived risk and helps the audience trust your content. This is a handso workflow.
5. Manual penalty reconsideration path: If a manual action is suspected or confirmed, gather evidence of remediation and submit a reconsideration request after cleanup; show a concise timeline of actions, including what links were removed or disavowed and when.
6. Monitoring and ongoing defense: Enable watching for new backlinks and risky patterns; run a weekly report to quantify progress; set alerts and adjust guardrails so you want to keep the backlink profile clean and prevent new harmful signals quite early.

Identify the two malicious backlinks in Ahrefs and note source domains

Address the two malicious backlinks immediately: backlinks from spammytools.info ja cheap-seo-tools.xyz were seen in Ahrefs. Both rely on an over-optimisation technique and link to your homepage and a product page through posts with junk keywords. These source domains lack editorial value, creating false signals that enter your index and negatively affect performance. Use your SEO tools to triage these signals and confirm they are not legitimate references.

Do this now: install a disavow file for the two domains and request removal or contact their hosting to pull the links. In Ahrefs, flag them as malicious, export the list for records, and store the evidence in your rmoov log. Further, set up notifications to catch similar activity, and build an integration with your cleanup workflow to trigger alerts if new spam domains appear on the head of your link graph in the coming weeks. A formal reconsideration of your link-building policy is warranted to avoid mass post-level over-optimisation and ensure anchors remain natural rather than forced. Use analytics software to track the removal impact and refine your approach.

Then map the cleanup: document the source domain, the exact URL, and the date seen, so you can report progress and verify results. Knowing the details helps you tighten controls on what enters your site via links, reduce the impact on posts and pages, and prevent false positives from hijacking your authority. You can really tighten controls across channels, including YouTube and other platforms, to ensure cross-linking does not undermine your edge in search results.

Collect evidence: anchors, dates, and screenshots for removal requests

Export anchors and their first-seen dates from Ahrefs and SEMrush, then assemble a concise evidence packet for takedown requests. Once you have the data, track activity that hurts your ranking and collect spamming indicators to support a removal claim.

For each entry, capture the anchor text, the target URL, and the domains hosting the links; record crawls and the dates when the anchor appeared, and note changes across crawls, including appearing instances.

Take high-quality screenshots for each instance: the page with the anchor, the appearing area, surrounding content, and the page URL. Save images with date stamps and attach them to the evidence packet so reviewers can verify context quickly.

Before submission, cross-check data across Ahrefs and SEMrush to ensure the same target URLs appear on the linking pages; this reduces errors and improves the perceived credibility of your case.

Create a single evidence file with an anchors list, a dates log, and a screenshots gallery. Add a short step-by-step narrative that explains how the link hurts your ranking and content, and why a takedown is warranted. Include how the domains were involved and the impact observed.

If youre filing via a platform, log in to the removal portal, attach the packet, and provide context for the takedown. Mention illegal or clearly low-quality links and the hit to your brand’s trust and ranking. You can receive responses and adjust your approach accordingly.

Always keep a running score for each item and a concise summary of outcomes; note ranking changes after the takedown and whether the domains stop appearing. A clear score helps stakeholders evaluate risk and prioritize follow-up actions.

Utilize public signals when possible: check owner contacts on LinkedIn pages and add these notes to the packet. Use crawls to show when the links appeared and when removal took effect, reinforcing the case you present to moderators or hosts.

Once you submit, monitor the results and adjust your defenses accordingly; maintain the evidence in a place that your team can access for future cases, and reuse the templates for similar instances.

Draft and send removal requests to host sites (with templates)

Draft removal requests using templates, then send to host sites to remove infringing files quickly. Use monitoring software to map the presence of infringement across domains, including hotlinking, shares, and unauthorized downloads. Prepare a very crisp evidence package: exact URLs, dates from crawls, screenshots, and the presence of any wordmarks in the page title. Compile a list of hosting domains and contact paths, sorted by likelihood of action and response time. Knowing the host’s policy helps tailor language and citations to the platform. Focus on speed and accuracy, not on rhetoric.

Template A: Standard hosting takedown request Dear [Host], The page at [URL] infringes my rights and violates your terms of service. Evidence includes: [Screenshots], [Crawl data], [Files list]. Please remove or disable access to the infringing content within your standard policy window. If you require more information, contact [Email]. Sincerely, [Name], [Company/Agency].

Template B: Forum or blog post removal request Hello, I am the rights holder for [Brand]. The post at [URL] contains content that infringes my rights and uses my logos without authorization. Please delete or modify the post to remove the infringing material. Evidence includes: [Screenshots], [Crawl results]. Thank you, [Name], [Company/Agency].

After sending, log responses and track status in your issue lists. If a host does not respond within 48 hours, escalate to the agency or legal contact and reuse the templates with updated URLs. Keep a concise notes file for each domain showing the presence of the infringement, the date of entry, and any mentions found during google searches or crawls. If new copies appear across different hosts, update the templates and reach out again with the revised evidence set. Monitoring and rapid iteration reduce the window for fans of infringing material while safeguarding your brand presence.

Fallback: file a Google Disavow if removals stall and document the steps

Use the Google Disavow tool now if removals stall; this powerful step helps dilute harmful links and protects rankings while you finish cleanup. Keep a clear record of actions, alert your team, and ensure campaigns stay aligned as posts appearing with safer signals drive the cleanup forward.

Step 1: export the full list of suspect backlinks from Ahrefs, including the referring domains, post URLs, and anchor texts. Step 2: rate each link as likely harmful or unclear, focusing on low-quality hosts and unrelated topics. Step 3: assemble a disavow file: lines with domain:example.com for domains, or specific URLs for highly suspect pages. Step 4: upload the file via Google Disavow Tool in Search Console and confirm the request. Step 5: to speed the effect, submit a manual URL inspection request for affected posts and monitor indexing; this helps signals appear faster.

Documentation: keep keeping logs of every action–dates, links added, and any changes in rankings or traffic. produced data from the cleanup should be organized in a single file so any auditor can access it quickly. Include handso notes to capture hands-on decisions and rationale, plus screenshot evidence where relevant. Store access permissions for the disavow asset in a shared folder and link it to the case file so the team can review the steps at a glance.

Impact tracking: monitor rates of ranking changes and traffic for the posts that gained links; look for drops in problematic references and improvements in key pages. The approach is proven to reduce risk and significantly reduce volatility, giving your team the opportunity to move forward with additional patches on the backlink profile. Keep campaigns aligned, and use the disavow as a fallback when outreach and takedowns stall.

Verify cleanup and monitor rankings and backlink metrics in Ahrefs

Run a takedown sprint in Ahrefs: export your backlink profile, identify spam links tied to attacks against your brands, and take takedown actions or disavow for the largest offenders, including links from gigs.

Set a month-long monitoring cadence: review rankings and backlink metrics weekly for the first month, then switch to monthly checks. In Ahrefs, track position changes above baseline for priority keywords and verify that visitors rebound after the cleanup.

Leverage the integration with Ahrefs to generate clear reporting for webmasters and others involved, and pull more insights into link health and rankings. Share findings with webmasters and others involved, to coordinate outreach.

Thats why you rely on fast takedown and ongoing monitoring to curb repeat attempts. If the attacker wants revenge and spreading spam, proactive alerts and quick adjustments cut the impact.

Keep an eye on social channels: monitor social signals and brand mentions; track spreading campaigns, and adjust thresholds as you gather more data. Sometimes these signals are noise, not opportunities.