It’s time to show most passwords in clear text as users type them. Most websites mask passwords as users type them and theoretically prevent miscreants from looking at it. But what you have to remember is that a truly skilled criminal has just see the keyboard and he or she will be able to make out the password in seconds. So password masking just doesn’t help much. But this is still a debate. Sometimes there are risks because of unmasking passwords especially in internet cafes. Its therefore worth offering a checkbox for password masking. Banking transactions definitely need password masking by default. But still in most cases it is understood that users will appreciate getting clear texts feedback as they enter passwords. Your business will increase and so will your security but at a tiny bit. Well I don’t know! Call me old fashioned but I do prefer to my passwords to be masked. Even if it means my account getting locked!

[Useit]