Ubuntu 26.04 Ends 46 Years of Silent sudo Passwords. Starting with the upcoming LTS release, every keystroke at a sudo password prompt will echo an asterisk — a small UX fix that has ignited one of Linux's fiercest debates in years.
I understand both sides, but I can’t even bring myself to care one way or the other. I have a pretty good contact prescription to bring my eyes as close to 20/20 as you can get but I’m not counting those asterisks unless you can already feel my breath on your neck. As a visual aid, it mostly just helps to see dropped inputs. Sometimes you think you type your password but you’re too hasty and don’t actuate a key and you can see that in the asterisks. Small benefit. Small protection. User configurable. Eh.
I understand both sides, but I can’t even bring myself to care one way or the other. I have a pretty good contact prescription to bring my eyes as close to 20/20 as you can get but I’m not counting those asterisks unless you can already feel my breath on your neck. As a visual aid, it mostly just helps to see dropped inputs. Sometimes you think you type your password but you’re too hasty and don’t actuate a key and you can see that in the asterisks. Small benefit. Small protection. User configurable. Eh.