Malicious
DRTCP.exe is a long-known TCP/IP tweaking utility flagged only by one engine as adware; tier-1 engines see no threat and it's likely safe from a trusted source.
de08e3d24dc3cafea0…b2e1c945b6The reasoning behind this verdict
The MT AI Engine weighs every signal from this scan — antivirus detections, sandbox behaviour, code signing, prevalence and historical matches — to reach a single, evidence-based verdict.
The file DRTCP.exe matches the hash of DrTCP version 0.2, a portable tool for tweaking TCP/IP parameters like MTU and RWIN directly via the registry. Our antivirus network shows just one detection from Zillya as Adware.DLBoost (a bundler), with 71 clean including all tier-1 engines like BitDefender and Kaspersky. It's unsigned but has positive reputation (32), common prevalence over 500 submissions since 2007, and no external threat intel hits. Behavior includes registry queries and network calls to Microsoft IPs, consistent with a network optimizer. A prior scan on our site also noted it as a legit network tool despite the flag.
- First submitted in 2007 (7002 days old) with positive reputation score of 32 and 504 community submissions.
- 17 tier-1 engines (BitDefender, Kaspersky, ESET, etc.) reported clean out of 76 total.
- No hits in MalwareBazaar, YARAify, or CIRCL threat intel sources.
- Identified as legitimate DrTCP TCP optimizer utility.
- Prior MalwareTips analysis recognizes it as a legit network tool.
- Zillya detects it as Adware.DLBoost.Win32.22, suggesting possible unwanted software bundling.
- Unsigned executable, common for portable tools but raises impersonation risk.
- Network tags include direct-cpu-clock-access, which can appear in both tools and threats.
- Sandbox behavior shows outbound connections to 20.99.* IPs (Microsoft Azure) and spawning wuapihost.exe.
- Mixed VT community comments mention possible worm traits alongside goodware tags.
Only run if you trust the download source, such as an official archive of Todd Laney's DrTCP; otherwise, delete it. Use a sandbox like Sandboxie for testing network tweaks.
What this file does
What it attempted when executed in an isolated sandbox
High concern: Talks to a remote server to take commands or send out your data.
High concern: Installs itself as a Windows service to stay running.
Moderate concern: Runs hidden system commands (script or shell).
Moderate concern: Scans through your files and folders.
Note: Collects details about your system.
Note: Loads extra code modules while running.
Translated from the file's technical behaviour during analysis. It never ran on your device.
Threat context
How bundlers & adware work
This is a bundler — a real-looking installer that hides extra software inside. When you run it, it quietly installs things you never asked for: ad injectors, browser toolbars, fake 'PC cleaner' apps, or even more bundlers. The people behind it get paid for every unwanted app they sneak on.
Bottom line:It's not usually built to destroy files, but it slows your PC, floods it with ads, and can be a real pain to fully remove.
What to do now
This file is dangerous. Treat it as harmful and remove it.
Don't open or run this file. Delete it from your Downloads (or wherever you saved it), then empty the Recycle Bin.
If you already opened it, disconnect from the internet and run a full scan with your antivirus — Windows Security, built into Windows, is sufficient.
If you typed any passwords while it was open, change them from a device you trust.
In future, only download software from the official website or an official app store.
Adware.DLBoost.Win32.22 corroborated by 1 source
- MT AI EngineAdware.DLBoost.Win32.22
1 contradiction resolved by the scoring engine
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.
- 20.99.184.37
- 20.99.186.246
- 192.229.211.108
- 20.96.52.198
- 23.216.147.76
- 20.99.185.48
- a83f:8110:0:0:a800:0:0:0
- 20.99.133.109
- 192.168.0.46
- 23.216.81.152
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WERFB67.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WERFB79.tmp.csv
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WERFB89.tmp.txt
- C:\Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0\cache\cache.dat
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER1613.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
- CTF.LBES.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
- CTF.Compart.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
- CTF.Asm.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
- CTF.Layouts.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
- CTF.TMD.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
1 detection across 76 engines
Section entropy & packers
Section-level entropy and packer detection from the PE header. Nothing suspicious here — entropy is within the normal range for unpacked code.
How widely this file has been seen
Widely seen in the wild for a long time. High prior this is legitimate; isolated detections on common-old files are usually false positives.
Forensic fingerprint
- File name
- DRTCP.exe
- Size
- 52.5 KB
- MIME type
- (unknown)
- Detected type
- Win32 EXE
- SHA-256
- de08e3d24dc3cafea087936be9b2016951b0b9f5c96399b74c0cc3b2e1c945b6
- MD5
- 5db09a8e32164e4669f5eadc0cf50182
- SHA-1
- 597d16a19baf7d15a045be41c907b956d1de706b
- PE imphash
- 8c622f6d71aa3d07bd30e01a36f2f7fa
- First seen (VT)
- 2/20/2007, 4:32:21 PM
- Last analysis (VT)
- 4/22/2026, 8:29:03 PM
- First scan (MalwareTips)
- 4/20/2026, 3:50:15 PM
- Last scan (MalwareTips)
- 4/23/2026, 4:19:29 PM
- Community reputation
- +32trusted
Safety FAQ
Common questions about DRTCP.exe, answered from the scan data above.
- Yes — DRTCP.exe is malicious, so do not run it, and delete it. 1 of 76 antivirus engines flag it (family: Adware.DLBoost.Win32.22). It behaves as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUA) — not always destructive, but it bundles ads, trackers, or unwanted changes you didn't ask for. If you've already run it, see the removal and recovery steps below.
- DRTCP.exe is a Windows executable program, about 53 KB. Our analysis identifies it as malicious (family: Adware.DLBoost.Win32.22) — adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUA) — not always destructive, but it bundles ads, trackers, or unwanted changes you didn't ask for. Because a file's name and icon can be faked, the safest way to identify it is by its cryptographic hash (below), not its filename.
- 1 of 76 antivirus engines flagged DRTCP.exe, 1 of them as outright malicious. A detection rate at this level is a reliable signal that the file is dangerous.
- Act quickly. 1) Disconnect the device from the internet to stop the malware communicating or spreading. 2) Run a full scan with reputable anti-malware software (such as Malwarebytes) and quarantine everything it finds. 3) Change your important passwords from a DIFFERENT, clean device — many threats log keystrokes or steal saved credentials. 4) If you bank or shop on this device, watch closely for fraud and alert your bank. 5) For a confirmed infection, the most reliable fix is to back up your personal files and reinstall the operating system for a clean start.
- To remove DRTCP.exe: 1) restart into Safe Mode (Safe Mode with Networking if you need to download a tool) so the malware doesn't auto-start. 2) Run a full scan with reputable anti-malware software and let it quarantine or delete the detections. 3) Delete the original DRTCP.exe file and empty the Recycle Bin/Trash. 4) Check your browser extensions, startup items, and scheduled tasks for anything unfamiliar. 5) Reboot and scan again to confirm it's gone. If detections keep coming back, a clean operating-system reinstall is the most dependable cure.
- DRTCP.exe is classified as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUA) — not always destructive, but it bundles ads, trackers, or unwanted changes you didn't ask for. Engines attribute it to the Adware.DLBoost.Win32.22 family. Knowing the family matters because it tells you the likely impact — data theft, remote control, file encryption, or unwanted ads — and guides the cleanup.
- The SHA-256 hash of DRTCP.exe is de08e3d24dc3cafea087936be9b2016951b0b9f5c96399b74c0cc3b2e1c945b6, and its MD5 is 5db09a8e32164e4669f5eadc0cf50182. This hash is the file's unique fingerprint — two files with the same SHA-256 are identical. Use it to confirm you're looking at exactly this file (not just one with the same name) when comparing against antivirus databases or a download's published checksum.
- This report reflects the scan run on April 20, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of DRTCP.exe is fixed — but antivirus coverage improves over time, so a file that looks clean today can pick up detections later (and vice-versa). If you need the latest picture, MalwareTips staff can re-run the analysis from scratch.
Reviews & malware reports(0)
Tell the community what you saw. Tag the sample — Trojan, Adware, False Positive — and share what the file did on your system. Your report helps confirm or dispute the AV verdict.