Ubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" to Enable Password Visual Feedback by Default, Sparking Security DebatesAs the official release of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon) approaches this April, a specific configuration change in the sudo command has become a hot topic within the Linux community. Canonical has decided to enable visual password feedback by default, using asterisks (*) to represent each character typed.
The "pwfeedback" Shift
Traditionally, when a user types a password in a Linux terminal for a sudo request, no characters are displayed. This "silent" input is a long-standing security measure intended to prevent onlookers from determining the length of a password.
However, Ubuntu 26.04 is flipping the switch on the pwfeedback configuration. The rationale behind this change is to improve the User Experience (UX) for newcomers. Beginners often find the blank screen confusing, leading them to believe the system is frozen or that their keyboard isn't working. By showing asterisks, Ubuntu aims to provide the same visual cues found in modern web and mobile login screens.
The "Won't Fix" Controversy
The change has met with resistance from seasoned Ubuntu testers and security purists who argue that revealing password length is an unnecessary security risk (information leakage). Despite the pushback, Ubuntu developers have stood their ground, officially marking bug reports related to this issue as "Won't Fix," confirming that this is an intentional design choice for the Resolute Raccoon release.
Ubuntu 26.04 attempts to be more of a "Linux for everyone." Most users are familiar with the fluidity of macOS and Windows. The silent terminal when typing passwords is seen as a "legacy barrier," a hindrance from the old way of thinking that makes people hesitant to use the command line (CLI).
Those who support Ubuntu argue that knowing only the "length" of a password doesn't significantly make it easier for hackers to breach a system compared to seeing the actual characters. Furthermore, in an era where biometric logins (fingerprints/faces) or FIDO2 security keys are increasingly used, typing passwords via sudo is becoming less important in terms of physical risk.
For experienced users who still prefer the silent mode, it's easy to revert to the default setting by using the command `sudo visudo` and removing `pwfeedback` from the `Defaults` line. Ubuntu allowing users to choose later is the reason the development team opted for a "user-friendly" default first.
The codename Resolute Raccoon reflects this decisiveness. The decision to mark a bug as "Won't Fix" reflects Canonical's desire to clearly define Ubuntu's direction as being mass-adoption friendly, even if it means changing decades-long traditions.
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Source: Ubuntu Launchpad
Ubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" to Enable Password Visual Feedback by Default, Sparking Security DebatesAs the official release of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon) approaches this April, a specific configuration change in the sudo command has become a hot topic within the Linux community. Canonical has decided to enable visual password feedback by default, using asterisks (*) to represent each character typed.
The "pwfeedback" Shift
Traditionally, when a user types a password in a Linux terminal for a sudo request, no characters are displayed. This "silent" input is a long-standing security measure intended to prevent onlookers from determining the length of a password.
However, Ubuntu 26.04 is flipping the switch on the pwfeedback configuration. The rationale behind this change is to improve the User Experience (UX) for newcomers. Beginners often find the blank screen confusing, leading them to believe the system is frozen or that their keyboard isn't working. By showing asterisks, Ubuntu aims to provide the same visual cues found in modern web and mobile login screens.
The "Won't Fix" Controversy
The change has met with resistance from seasoned Ubuntu testers and security purists who argue that revealing password length is an unnecessary security risk (information leakage). Despite the pushback, Ubuntu developers have stood their ground, officially marking bug reports related to this issue as "Won't Fix," confirming that this is an intentional design choice for the Resolute Raccoon release.
Ubuntu 26.04 attempts to be more of a "Linux for everyone." Most users are familiar with the fluidity of macOS and Windows. The silent terminal when typing passwords is seen as a "legacy barrier," a hindrance from the old way of thinking that makes people hesitant to use the command line (CLI).
Those who support Ubuntu argue that knowing only the "length" of a password doesn't significantly make it easier for hackers to breach a system compared to seeing the actual characters. Furthermore, in an era where biometric logins (fingerprints/faces) or FIDO2 security keys are increasingly used, typing passwords via sudo is becoming less important in terms of physical risk.
For experienced users who still prefer the silent mode, it's easy to revert to the default setting by using the command `sudo visudo` and removing `pwfeedback` from the `Defaults` line. Ubuntu allowing users to choose later is the reason the development team opted for a "user-friendly" default first.
The codename Resolute Raccoon reflects this decisiveness. The decision to mark a bug as "Won't Fix" reflects Canonical's desire to clearly define Ubuntu's direction as being mass-adoption friendly, even if it means changing decades-long traditions.
Cloudflare Workers AI Goes Frontier 1.1T Parameter Kimi K2.5 Now Available.
Source: Ubuntu Launchpad
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