Damn Good Recipe Promos ads: what it is and how to remove it
Damn Good Recipe Promos is an adware that users typically install unintentionally after they download freeware from third-party sites or after they see a fake advertisement on a random website.
The app is considered to be a PUP not only due to its deceptive distribution tactics, but also its functionality, as it is set to actively track users and insert intrusive advertisements into Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another web browser.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Damn Good Recipe Promos ads: summary
| Damage | Installation of other unneeded/suspicious programs, personal information disclosure to unknown parties, monetary loss, etc. |
|---|---|
| Name | Damn Good Recipe Promos |
| Type | Adware, potentially unwanted program |
| Alleged function | To allow users to find cooking recipes fast |
| Infiltration | Adware is typically downloaded along with freeware from third-party websites, although some might install it without knowing about the unwanted activities that the PUP exhibit after the infiltration. Additionally, some might install it after being tricked by an attractive ad or a fake update prompt on a random website |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 6 more facts
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | Damn Good Recipe Promos |
| First seen | 22 May 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Damn Good Recipe Promos ads dangerous?
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Damn Good Recipe Promos is a potentially unwanted program that introduces intrusive advertisements into your web browser
Damn Good Recipe Promos is an adware that users typically install unintentionally after they download freeware from third-party sites or after they see a fake advertisement on a random website.
The app is considered to be a PUP not only due to its deceptive distribution tactics, but also its functionality, as it is set to actively track users and insert intrusive advertisements into Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another web browser.
Damn Good Recipe Promos is advertised as a browser extension that can help users to find new food recipes and improve their cooking skills. However, the app has ulterior motives, which is monetization on advertisements. While showing ads is something that many companies do, intrusive pop-ups, banners, coupons, deals, offers, and other commercial content should not be tolerated by users.
As soon as users download the Damn Good Recipe Promos, they should immediately see changes to their web browsers and ever-increasing amount of advertisements and other disturbances:
While many users might be annoyed by the intrusive nature of DamnGoodRecipe, it is not its most dangerous trait. While ads are legitimate sources of monetizing for many content creators and app developers, some advertisements are just not as safe as the others.
In some cases, users might be presented with online scams after being redirected several times via the web browser. These fake alerts might suggest that there is something missing on the computer (like a Flash update) or that it has been infected with malware, and some unknown software needs to be downloaded to protect users' sensitive information. However, these are all bogus claims and should never be trusted.
Adware, in general, is not considered to be malware, although its extensive advertisements not only diminish web browsing experience but also can put privacy and computer security at risk. For that reason, some may refer to such apps as Damn Good Recipe Promos virus, even though the term is not correct technically.
Another reason for Damn Good Recipe Promos removal is its information tracking principles. The app tracks a variety of data about users who have it installed, including contract information (if provided), cookies, browser type, IP address, type of device, third-party ads interactions, visited websites, geolocation, zip code, and much more. Besides, all this data can be shared with the company's partners, as explained in the Privacy Policy:
Since the app is often spread via software bundles, it can end up on your system without your consent, so you should remove Damn Good Recipe Promos from your system immediately.
- Advertisement banners and promotions can be encountered on most visited websites;
- New tab URL, homepage, and the search engine might be set to something else;
- Web browser operation becomes slower and it sometimes fails to load particular pages;
- Redirects lead to unknown websites (might be malicious);
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Damn Good Recipe Promos
- In case your computer is suffering from system shutdowns, crashes, and similar issues, it might have been caused by an infection.
- We may share your Information with our principals, employees, consultants, officers, directors, members, agents, subsidiaries, or affiliates, or our parent company and its principals, parent company, employees, officers, consultants, directors, members, agents, subsidiaries, or affiliates.
- We may share your Information with third party advertising networks and advertisers to help deliver Third Party Ads to you and to improve the relevancy of such Third Party Ads.
How to remove Damn Good Recipe Promos ads
How to remove the Damn Good Recipe Promos extension
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
Damn Good Recipe Promos often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall Damn Good Recipe Promos
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10.
Sort the list by install date and find Damn Good Recipe Promos, then choose Uninstall from the three-dot menu next to it (in Windows 10, click the entry and then Uninstall).
Remove anything else installed on the same day that you do not recognise, because such programs usually arrive together in one installer. If the uninstaller opens a browser page with an offer or a survey, close it: the program is removed either way.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall potentially unwanted applications from Windows systems as explained below:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
Adware often leaves cookies and unwanted settings on Google Chrome, even after it is eliminated. To prevent the return of ads, reset the browser as follows:
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
macOS users should perform the following step to delete adware from their systems:
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Prevent potentially unwanted program intrusion by being cautious online
While adware infection is not the same as malware infection, it might lead to the same consequences, as the former can lead to the infiltration of the latter.
Ads, redirects, and other shady advertisement practices often land many users in trouble, whether they get scammed on a phishing site or install an app without knowing much about it. Luckily, most adware and other PUPs can be eliminated without too much effort before they cause major damage or lead users to malware.
However, keep in mind that even an unintentional click can sometimes bring trouble. For example, if you are not keen on updating your web browsers, other apps, as well as the operating system, you are very much vulnerable to malware attacks.
Some websites are programmed to run a malicious script in the background on those machines that have vulnerable software installed. As a result, malware can get installed automatically without user intervention. What makes matters worse, an infection of adware can lead to such dangerous sites much quicker than otherwise.
Therefore, make sure you avoid adware - the security holes often outweigh the benefits of the app's functionality, so make sure you only install trustworthy applications from reputable and trusted sources.
Nonetheless, even well-known websites bungle software, so you should be careful during the installation process - always pick Advanced/Custom settings instead of Quick/Recommended ones and watch out for pre-ticked boxes/fine print/misplaced buttons, which can easily lead to infiltration of unwanted or even dangerous apps. Finally, protect your computer with comprehensive security software.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Damn Good Recipe Promos and other PUP removal options
Keep in mind that, in case you noticed that Damn Good Recipe Promos was installed on your system without your consent, there is a high chance that there are other adware apps or even malware inside.
Therefore, it is always a good practice to perform a full system scan with reputable security software, which would be able to find all the potential threats automatically. Nevertheless, you can perform Damn Good Recipe Promos removal manually as well.
To remove Damn Good Recipe Promos, you should right-click on the extension, although this might not be enough. Potentially unwanted applications, especially adware, leave traces and settings behind, even after the main app is terminated. Therefore, we highly advise you to reset all the installed browsers to remove Damn Good Recipe Promos cookies and other traces to prevent the return of unwanted ads.
Questions about Damn Good Recipe Promos ads
Can I safely uninstall Damn Good Recipe Promos?
If you did not install Damn Good Recipe Promos yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows.
Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name. Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps.
Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.
Damn Good Recipe Promos will not uninstall. What can I do?
First restart the PC and try again, because the program may have been running and locked its own files. If the uninstaller is missing or fails, start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs do not start, and remove Damn Good Recipe Promos from Installed apps there.
If it still refuses, delete its startup entry and its scheduled task, restart, and try once more. A program that actively prevents removal is behaving like malware, so finish with a Microsoft Defender offline scan. Avoid third-party uninstallers offered on search ads; several of them are unwanted programs themselves.
My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?
Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.
Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.
Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?
No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:
- running a downloaded file
- installing an extension
- giving a stranger remote access
That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.
I let a "support technician" from an ad connect to my PC. What should I do?
Act quickly but calmly. Disconnect the PC from the internet first, so the connection ends. Uninstall the remote access tool they asked you to install and check Installed apps for anything else added during the call.
Run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan. From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and sign out of all sessions.
If you paid by card, bank transfer or gift card, contact your bank or the card issuer immediately, and report the scam to the police. Do not answer if they call back.
Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?
Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.
Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.
Did Damn Good Recipe Promos collect my data?
Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:
- the sites you visit
- search terms
- approximate location
- browser and system details
Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.
If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.
Do I need to reset my browser after removing Damn Good Recipe Promos?
A reset is a good last step, because it undoes settings that the program changed. A reset restores the home page, new tab page and default search engine, and turns off extensions.
It does not delete your bookmarks or saved passwords in the main browsers. Add back only the extensions you trust, one at a time.
Will Fortect remove Damn Good Recipe Promos?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Damn Good Recipe Promos, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Adware (read October 7, 2026)
- DamnGoodRecipe: DamnGoodRecipe PRIVACY POLICY (read October 7, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)