sudo-rs changes 46-year-old convention in password input

February 27, 2026 at 11:38 AM UTC
Heise Online
Original: DE
sudo-rs changes 46-year-old convention in password input

The development of sudo-rs, a Rust-based implementation of the sudo command, marks a significant departure from a 46-year-old Unix convention regarding password input. By default, sudo-rs now displays asterisks as characters are typed, a change that prioritizes user privacy and security in command-line operations. This move addresses a long-standing, albeit subtle, security vulnerability where password visibility could be compromised in certain terminal environments. Historically, Unix systems have shown no visual feedback when a password was entered, a practice intended to prevent shoulder-surfing. Sudo-rs's adoption of masked input, where asterisks represent each character, offers a clearer indication to users that their input is being registered without revealing the password itself. This enhancement is particularly relevant in shared or public computing environments, improving the security posture for sensitive command-line tasks. This adjustment by sudo-rs is likely to influence future command-line tools and potentially inspire a broader reconsideration of input masking conventions across the open-source community. While the core functionality remains the same, this change enhances user experience and security awareness, aligning with modern digital security best practices and contributing to a more secure computing environment.

Curated and translated by Europe Digital for our multilingual European audience.

Source Information

Publication: Heise Online
Published: February 27, 2026 at 11:38 AM UTC
All rights remain with the original publisher.

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