Is CompactGUI.dll safe?
CompactGUI is a widely used, legitimate open-source disk compression utility; the triggered heuristic alerts are consistent with its documented system-level operations and are not indicative of malicious intent.
Our analysis identifies this file as a component of the legitimate open-source utility CompactGUI. The triggered heuristic alerts regarding process interaction are consistent with the tool's documented use of native Windows APIs for disk compression and do not indicate malicious activity.
9696143759d85cc6d5…0291f73f51a1e4Recommended next actions
Before using
Use it only as part of software obtained from the developer's official site or another source you independently trust.
If you already used it
Keep normal device protection enabled and stop if the file behaves unexpectedly.
Intelligence
The saved assessment, checked against the scan evidence and recorded coverage.
The reasoning behind this verdict
This section explains the evidence supporting the verdict and keeps conflicting or missing signals visible.
Our analysis identifies this file as a component of the legitimate open-source utility CompactGUI. The triggered heuristic alerts regarding process interaction are consistent with the tool's documented use of native Windows APIs for disk compression and do not indicate malicious activity.
The file is a component of the well-known CompactGUI utility, which is used to compress files and folders on Windows. While the file is unsigned and triggered heuristic alerts for process injection and LSASS interaction, these behaviors are expected for a tool that interacts directly with Windows system APIs to perform disk compression. The engine detection rate is extremely low, and the contacted hosts are legitimate GitHub endpoints used by the software for updates. Given the prevalence and clear identification of the software, we conclude the file is safe.
What We Detected
The file is a component of CompactGUI, a legitimate, open-source utility designed to reduce disk space usage by leveraging native Windows compression APIs. While the file is unsigned, this is common for community-maintained projects.
Threat Behavior
The sandbox observed activity involving process interaction and system-level calls. These behaviors, while flagged by heuristic engines as potential process injection (T1055) or credential-related activity, are consistent with the tool's documented functionality of managing system files and interacting with Windows APIs. The network connections to GitHub are legitimate and used for fetching application updates and compression databases.
What To Do Now
This file is safe to use. Ensure you download the software only from the official GitHub repository to maintain integrity.
Where this verdict could be wrong1 caveat
- The file is unsigned, which is unusual for professional software but common for community-maintained open-source projects.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- Identified as legitimate open-source software (CompactGUI)
- Low engine detection rate (1/75)
- Medium prevalence (547 unique sources)
- Network activity consistent with legitimate update mechanisms
- Unsigned executable
- Heuristic alerts for process injection (T1055)
- Heuristic alerts for LSASS interaction
The file is safe to use. Continue to obtain updates from the official project repository.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete1 of 75 engines flagged the file.
Sandbox
Complete1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.
Network
Partial1 of 3 contacted hosts were cross-checked; coverage is incomplete.
YARA
Complete3 signature or behavior rules matched.
External intel
Complete3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.
Behavior
Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.
Runtime flight recorder
Capture complete- 1isolated sandbox run
- 10MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 9spawned processes
- 4network contacts
- 13filesystem & mutex artifacts
Attack story
Runtime observations grouped by analysis stage. Arrows organize the stages; they do not claim chronology or causality.
Input file
The submitted object
- FileObserved
CompactGUI.dll
9696143759d85cc6d5ecf14453f6d4754ae465515023d7fedd0291f73f51a1e4
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\CompactGUI.exe"
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
settings.json
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\IridiumIO\CompactGUI\settings.json
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
log-20260415.log
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\IridiumIO\CompactGUI\log-20260415.log
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostDerived
raw.githubusercontent.com
Saved reputation verdict: suspicious.
06Contacted-host cross-check - Contacted hostObserved
185.199.108.133
Contact observed during runtime.
07Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
7 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.
What this file did when executed
This file was detonated in 1 sandbox and its runtime behaviour was observed.
Adversary techniques mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
- 185.199.108.133
- 162.159.36.2
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/IridiumIO/CompactGUI/database/version.json
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/IridiumIO/CompactGUI/database/database.json
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\IridiumIO\CompactGUI\settings.json
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\IridiumIO\CompactGUI\log-20260415.log
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\IridiumIO\CompactGUI\watcher.json
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\CompactGUI.lnk
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\IridiumIO\CompactGUI\databasev2.json
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\KnownGameList.bin
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\GameDVR\KnownGameList.update
- Global\CompactGUI
- Local\SessionImmersiveColorMutex
- C::Users:Bruno:AppData:Local:IridiumIO:CompactGUI:log-20260415.log.serilog
- cversions.3.m
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 7 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- 793dcb17e6cad2895ada…886a56Never scannednever seen before
- 39c4e16273c617a32bdc…a2983cNever scannednever seen before
- 0a007d5ad4f29df87d3a…f04bb9Never scannednever seen before
- 6cb88bf7df46441577df…5f6ba5Never scannednever seen before
- 7fb5de876bfd6a9ed7c4…f0b766Never scannednever seen before
- ceae7d4150ddb2eb83b0…de064eNever scannednever seen before
- 28fb08c87c7caaa1ebc1…6ea96cNever scannednever seen before
Servers this file contacts
This file contacts 1 host we've flagged suspicious in our own URL scanner.
Detection & Forensics
Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.
Evidence integrity
Chain of custody for the facts preserved in this report.
- 3rule hits recorded
- 1 / 75engines flagged
- 547sources in submission history
Why these facts are shown
Each statement identifies whether it was directly recorded or derived from saved scan facts.
- 01
1 high-confidence signature or behavior rule matched this file.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceDerivedSourceSignature and behavior rulesObserved at - 02
1 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including APEX.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
The hash has been submitted 604 times from 547 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSaved report factsObserved at - 04
Scanned file: CompactGUI.dll — 9696143759d85cc6d5ecf14453f6d4754ae465515023d7fedd0291f73f51a1e4
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\CompactGUI.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: settings.json — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\IridiumIO\CompactGUI\settings.json
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: log-20260415.log — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\IridiumIO\CompactGUI\log-20260415.log
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 09
Contacted host: raw.githubusercontent.com — Saved reputation verdict: suspicious.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceContacted-host cross-checkObserved at - 10
Contacted host: 185.199.108.133 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Detection sources at a glance
The available sources did not agree on a named threat category.
MalwareBazaar, YARAify, and CIRCL hashlookup completed and returned no entries for this hash.
Signatures and behavior heuristics
A community signature or high-severity behavioral heuristic matched. Signatures identify known patterns; heuristics are strong leads but are not proof on their own.
The saved runtime evidence maps this activity to MITRE T1055 (Process Injection). The mapping supports possible process injection, but it does not prove the exact injection method or the operator's intent.
EvidenceC:\Windows\Explorer.EXESandbox observed process activity targeting LSASS (Windows credential store). Legitimate software has no business reading LSASS memory — this is Mimikatz-shape behaviour.
EvidenceC:\Windows\system32\lsass.exeThe sample contacted an external IP address directly and no application domain was recorded. Direct-IP traffic also occurs in legitimate installers and infrastructure, so this is supporting context only and requires corroboration from host reputation and other runtime evidence.
Evidence185.199.108.133 · 162.159.36.2
1 of 75 engines flagged this file
View all 75 engine results
Section entropy & packers
No high-entropy executable section or known packer signature was detected. Data and resource sections can still have high entropy without indicating packed code.
How widely this file has been seen
Moderate prevalence — neither rare nor common. No strong prior applies.
Fingerprint and provenance
- File name
- CompactGUI.dll
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 8.7 MB
- Last analyzed
- Aug 18, 2026, 12:20 AM UTC
9696143759d85cc6d5ecf14453f6d4754ae465515023d7fedd0291f73f51a1e4Safety & FAQ
Complete recovery guidance and answers for the next decision.
What to do now
This file appears low risk based on the evidence available now.
- Recovery step 01
Use it only as part of software obtained from the developer's official site or another source you independently trust.
- Recovery step 02
A clean result reduces known risk, but it cannot guarantee that every new or targeted threat has been detected.
- Recovery step 03
Keep your antivirus and Windows updates switched on so you stay protected.
Safety FAQ
Direct answers grounded in the saved verdict and evidence in this report.
Is CompactGUI.dll safe?
What is CompactGUI.dll?
How many antivirus engines detected CompactGUI.dll?
What is the SHA-256 hash of CompactGUI.dll?
Is it safe to use CompactGUI.dll?
How up to date is this analysis of CompactGUI.dll?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.