HackTool:Win32/Passview is a detection by Microsoft Defender Antivirus for a specific tool known as “PasswordFox” or “Mail PassView.” This tool is designed to extract passwords and login credentials saved in various applications and web browsers on the infected system. It can recover passwords from popular web browsers, email clients, FTP programs, and other applications that store passwords locally.
HackTool:Win32/Passview is classified as a “hack tool” because it can potentially be misused by malicious actors to steal sensitive information from users without their consent. However, it’s important to note that this tool can also be used for legitimate purposes, such as recovering forgotten passwords from one’s own accounts or for forensic investigations.
While Passview itself is not inherently harmful, its presence on a system may indicate that someone is attempting to retrieve passwords without authorization, which could be a security concern. It’s crucial to exercise caution and ensure that the tool is used responsibly and legally to protect sensitive information.
What is Passview Tools?
Passview tools refer to a category of software applications designed to recover or display passwords and login credentials stored on a computer or in various applications. These tools are commonly used for legitimate purposes, such as password recovery when a user has forgotten their login information for a specific program or website. However, they can also be misused for illicit activities if they fall into the wrong hands.
Passview tools typically work by scanning the computer’s memory, registry, or configuration files to find and extract saved passwords. They can retrieve passwords from various sources, including web browsers, email clients, instant messaging programs, FTP clients, and more. Some popular examples of Passview tools include Mail PassView, PasswordFox, and WebBrowserPassView.
Due to their password-revealing capabilities, Passview tools may be flagged by antivirus software as potentially harmful or categorized as HackTools. This is a precautionary measure taken by security software to alert users to the potential risks associated with using these tools, especially in the wrong hands or without proper authorization.
Users should use Passview tools responsibly and for legitimate purposes only, such as personal password recovery or when explicitly authorized to access password information on someone else’s device for legitimate system administration or technical support purposes. Misusing Passview tools to gain unauthorized access to others’ passwords is illegal and unethical.
PasswordFox
PasswordFox is a small and free utility developed by NirSoft, a software developer known for creating various system tools and utilities. PasswordFox is designed to retrieve passwords and login credentials saved in web browsers installed on the user’s computer. It works with popular web browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge.
The tool is intended for legitimate purposes, such as helping users recover their own forgotten passwords or for forensic investigations by system administrators. It can be useful when users need to access their saved passwords in case they forget them.
However, it’s important to note that PasswordFox can also be misused if someone gains unauthorized access to a computer and uses the tool to extract passwords without the user’s knowledge or consent. For this reason, some antivirus software, including Microsoft Defender Antivirus, may flag PasswordFox as a HackTool, which indicates that it has the potential for misuse.
Users should exercise caution when using password retrieval tools like PasswordFox and ensure they are complying with applicable laws and obtaining permission before accessing passwords stored on other people’s devices. It’s essential to use such tools responsibly and for legitimate purposes only.
Mail PassView
Mail PassView is a password recovery tool developed by NirSoft, a software developer known for creating various system utilities. Like PasswordFox, Mail PassView is designed to retrieve passwords and login credentials saved in email clients installed on the user’s computer. It supports a wide range of email clients, including Microsoft Outlook, Windows Live Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, IncrediMail, and others.
The tool is intended for legitimate purposes, such as helping users recover their own forgotten email passwords or for forensic investigations by system administrators. It can be useful when users need to access their saved email passwords in case they forget them.
However, it’s important to note that Mail PassView, like other password recovery tools, can also be misused if someone gains unauthorized access to a computer and uses the tool to extract passwords without the user’s knowledge or consent. For this reason, some antivirus software, including Microsoft Defender Antivirus, may flag Mail PassView as a HackTool, which indicates that it has the potential for misuse.
Just like with PasswordFox, users should exercise caution when using Mail PassView and ensure they are complying with applicable laws and obtaining permission before accessing passwords stored on other people’s devices. It’s essential to use such tools responsibly and for legitimate purposes only.
What does the pop-up with HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB detection mean?
The HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB detection you can see in the lower right corner is displayed to you by Microsoft Defender. That anti-malware application is pretty good at scanning, however, prone to be generally unreliable. It is prone to malware invasions, it has a glitchy interface and bugged malware removal features. Thus, the pop-up which states about the Passview is just an alert that Defender has detected it. To remove it, you will likely need to make use of another anti-malware program.
Microsoft Defender: “HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB”
The exact HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB virus is a really undesirable thing. It digs inside of your system under the guise of something legit, or as a part of the tool you have got on a forum. Therefore, it makes everything to make your system weaker. At the end of this “party”, it injects other viruses – ones which are wanted by crooks who control this malware. Hence, it is likely impossible to predict the effects from Passview actions. And the unpredictability is one of the most unwanted things when it comes to malware. That’s why it is rather not to choose at all, and don’t let the malware to complete its task.
Threat Summary:
| Name | Passview HackTool |
| Detection | HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB |
| Details | Passview is attached to another program (such as a document), which can replicate and spread after an initial execution. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Passview HackTool |
Is HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB dangerous?
As I have stated , non-harmful malware does not exist. And HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB is not an exception. This malware alters the system setups, edits the Group Policies and Windows registry. All of these components are vital for correct system operating, even when we are not talking about PC safety. Therefore, the malware which Passview contains, or which it will download later, will squeeze out maximum profit from you. Crooks can steal your personal information, and then sell it at the black market. Using adware and browser hijacker functions, built in HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB malware, they can make money by showing you the ads. Each view gives them a penny, but 100 views per day = $1. 1000 victims who watch 100 banners per day – $1000. Easy math, but sad conclusions. It is a bad choice to be a donkey for crooks.
How did I get this virus?
It is not easy to trace the sources of malware on your computer. Nowadays, things are mixed, and spreading tactics chosen by adware 5 years ago can be utilized by spyware nowadays. However, if we abstract from the exact spreading method and will think about why it works, the answer will be very simple – low level of cybersecurity awareness. People click on ads on weird websites, click the pop-ups they get in their browsers, call the “Microsoft tech support” believing that the odd banner that states about malware is true. It is necessary to understand what is legit – to stay away from misunderstandings when attempting to identify a virus.
Microsoft Tech Support Scam
Nowadays, there are two of the most extensive tactics of malware distribution – bait e-mails and also injection into a hacked program. While the first one is not so easy to stay away from – you need to know a lot to understand a fake – the second one is very easy to address: just don’t use hacked applications. Torrent-trackers and various other sources of “totally free” applications (which are, exactly, paid, but with a disabled license checking) are just a giveaway place of malware. And HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB is just among them.
Remove HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware
We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Hack Tools as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB as well as other malware hiding on your computer.
To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:
1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.
2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.
3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.
4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.
Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.
5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.
6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.
8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.
Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.
Trojan Killer for “HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB” removal on locked PC
In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.
There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.
Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.
Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:
1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.
2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.
3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.
4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.
Step 2: Update Signature Databases:
5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.
6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.
Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:
7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.
8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.
9. Insert the USB flash drive.
10. Run tk.exe
11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.
Step 4: Remove Found Threats:
12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.
13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.
14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer:
15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.
16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.
Congratulations on effectively removing HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.
How to Remove HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB Malware
Name: HackTool:Win32/Passview!MTB
Description: HackTool:Win32/Passview is a detection name used by Microsoft Defender and other security software to identify certain password-recovery tools that can be misused for illicit purposes. Passview tools, such as Mail PassView, WebBrowserPassView, and PasswordFox (developed by NirSoft), fall into this category.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: HackTool
