PUA:Win32/PassShow

If you spectate the alert of PUA:Win32/PassShow detection, it appears that your system has a problem. All viruses are dangerous, with no exceptions. PassShow unwanted application can not be called full-fledged malware. However, it has plenty of proofs to claim that you will not like the changes this thing brings to your computer.

PUAs like that may be just a bothersome thing, as well as lead to a serious impact on your system’s functionality. Additionally, there are a number of situations when users report that this program acts like spyware or backdoor.

What does the notification with PUA:Win32/PassShow detection mean?

The PUA:Win32/PassShow detection you can see in the lower right corner is demonstrated to you by Microsoft Defender. That anti-malware application is good at scanning, however, prone to be generally unstable. It is prone to malware invasions, it has a glitchy interface and problematic malware clearing features. Thus, the pop-up which says concerning the PassShow is rather just an alert that Defender has actually spotted it. To remove it, you will likely need to use another anti-malware program.

PUA:Win32/PassShow found

Microsoft Defender: “PUA:Win32/PassShow”

PUA:Win32/PassShow unwanted program is a typical example of PUA, which are quite widespread nowadays. Being free to use, it may offer you “the extended capabilities” for the additional money. Some examples of this program type can have no real functions whatsoever – just the shell with the colorful interface. You can see it advertised as a system optimization software, driver updater or torrent downloadings tracker. This or another way it does not grant you any type of true performance, exposing you to risk instead.

Unwanted Program Summary:

Name PassShow PUA
Detection PUA:Win32/PassShow
Damage PassShow is at least useless, or can perform various malicious actions on your PC.
Fix Tool See If Your System Has Been Affected by PassShow exploit

File Information

Click to expand

File Info:

crc32: EA41EAB7md5: 8809f0461a1ad8fa73cacf4a0c49c4c9name: 8809F0461A1AD8FA73CACF4A0C49C4C9.mlwsha1: 6612fcc444ee5b15f24bc87d409721bc8210ee09sha256: ba2b7031c19e45e4b2ba651c34435f1ec62c38b1e2d2f8e8c4e117870c4e8932sha512: 85d5240be549d39095abdab849b4174db32c67a91ed9b86a9a249ada62d931e515c4a615c97ab37f56c605ebd790a332b454d7504982514a2c7519f57fcc7a20ssdeep: 49152:/mLQtodSvU7P4uKssqEH67ileq7sFICOiiXRKCLusdrZM6pjGLx:eLQOS8E2h7ilgpTiXRKuvdry5type: PE32+ executable (GUI) x86-64, for MS Windows

Version Info:

FileVersion: 1.1CompanyName: NK125Translation: 0x0409 0x04b0

Other detection names

Click to expand
GridinSoft Trojan.Ransom.Gen
K7AntiVirus Riskware ( 0040eff71 )
Elastic malicious (high confidence)
DrWeb Tool.PassView.1946
Cynet Malicious (score: 90)
CAT-QuickHeal Trojan.Riskware
ALYac Trojan.GenericKD.45890977
Cylance Unsafe
Sangfor Riskware.Win32.Wacapew.C
CrowdStrike win/malicious_confidence_90% (W)
Alibaba RiskWare:Win32/NetPass.5a0a9cf3
K7GW Riskware ( 0040eff71 )
Cybereason malicious.444ee5
Cyren W32/Application.PQWM-4582
Symantec PasswordRevealer
ESET-NOD32 a variant of Win32/PSWTool.WebBrowserPassView.I potentially unsafe
APEX Malicious
Avast Win32:TrojanX-gen [Trj]
ClamAV Win.Tool.WebBrowserPassView-9831120-0
Kaspersky not-a-virus:HEUR:PSWTool.Win32.NetPass.gen
BitDefender Trojan.GenericKD.45890977
NANO-Antivirus Riskware.Win32.PassView.hmklhx
MicroWorld-eScan Trojan.GenericKD.45890977
Ad-Aware Trojan.GenericKD.45890977
Sophos Generic PUA GG (PUA)
Comodo .UnclassifiedMalware@0
TrendMicro HackTool.Win32.NirsoftPT.SM
McAfee-GW-Edition BehavesLike.Win64.Ransomware.vc
FireEye Generic.mg.8809f0461a1ad8fa
Emsisoft Trojan.GenericKD.45890977 (B)
SentinelOne Static AI – Suspicious PE
eGambit Unsafe.AI_Score_94%
Microsoft PUA:Win32/PassShow
Arcabit Trojan.Generic.D2BC3DA1
AegisLab Riskware.Win32.NetPass.1!c
ZoneAlarm not-a-virus:HEUR:PSWTool.Win32.PassView.a
GData Trojan.GenericKD.45890977
McAfee Artemis!8809F0461A1A
MAX malware (ai score=85)
Malwarebytes Malware.AI.4130642349
TrendMicro-HouseCall HackTool.Win32.NirsoftPT.SM
Rising HackTool.BrowserPassview!1.CC5C (CLOUD)
Fortinet Riskware/NetPass
AVG Win32:TrojanX-gen [Trj]
Paloalto generic.ml
Qihoo-360 Win32/Trojan.Generic.H8oA3AsB

Is PUA:Win32/PassShow dangerous?

I have already stated that PUA:Win32/PassShow PUA is not as trustworthy as it pretends to be. The “legitimate and effective” program may suddenly unveil itself as a downloader trojan, spyware, backdoor, or coin miner malware. And you can never foresee what to expect even from different variants of PassShow unwanted program. That still does not imply that you have to panic – possibly, this unpleasant thing has not succeeded to do bad things to your computer.

The exact damage to your system can be created not just as a result of the malware injection. A significant share of suspicious programs, like the PassShow app is, is just poorly designed. Potentially, their actions are fairly useful than useless if done on specific system setups, however, not on each one. That’s how an uncomplicated system optimization app may cause disorder with continuous BSODs on your system. Any type of interruptions to the system registry are dangerous, and they are much more risky if completed with such programs.

How did I get this virus?

It is not easy to line the sources of malware on your computer. Nowadays, things are mixed, and distribution ways utilized by adware 5 years ago may be utilized by spyware these days. But if we abstract from the exact spreading way and will think about why it works, the reply will be quite simple – low level of cybersecurity knowledge. People click on promotions on weird websites, open the pop-ups they receive in their browsers, call the “Microsoft tech support” assuming that the weird banner that states about malware is true. It is important to understand what is legit – to prevent misunderstandings when attempting to determine a virus.

Microsoft tech support scam

The example of Microsoft Tech support scam banner

Nowadays, there are two of the most extensive methods of malware spreading – bait e-mails and also injection into a hacked program. While the first one is not so easy to stay away from – you must know a lot to recognize a counterfeit – the 2nd one is simple to handle: just don’t use cracked programs. Torrent-trackers and various other providers of “free” applications (which are, actually, paid, but with a disabled license checking) are really a giveaway point of malware. And PUA:Win32/PassShow is simply among them.

How to remove the PUA:Win32/PassShow from my PC?

About the author

Robert Bailey

Security engineer focused on malware behavior, removal workflows, and Windows hardening. Robert reviews threat articles for practical accuracy, checking detection names, symptoms, and cleanup steps before publication.

1 Comment

  • What if this “PUA:Win32/PassShow” is in a software FOR hacking? Could it be in there as a feature of said software? Or is it specifically malicious?

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