By default, when you enter your password in the password field on any website, it is displayed as asterisks in all browsers. This is kind of a security measure so that no one around you can see your password. It’s basically because of some coding elements in your browser. If you want to find out what is behind those asterisks, you can find out either by changing the source code in your browser or by installing a third party extension available in Chrome Web Store.
Using the source code method may not the best way to reveal the passwords behind the asterisk especially if you don’t know coding. In that method, you must change some text by going to Inspect Element window in Google Chrome and Firefox.
There are third party extensions available for both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox that allows users to unhide passwords behind the asterisks.
Google Chrome
I prefer using an extension known as Show Password on Focus. With Show Password on Focus, you easily reveal the letters written in the password field. To get started, go to the Chrome Web Store and install the extension. After installing the extension, just go to any website where you log in and type anything in the password field. It will show you the text rather than the asterisks.
The extension works with any service you use like Facebook, Gmail, etc. The good thing about this extension is that when you click anywhere else on the page, it will hide the password again.
Mozilla Firefox
If you are a Firefox user, you should know that there are a number of add-ons available in the Mozilla Add-on Repository that allows users to unhide the password behind asterisks. One extension that I used is known as Unhide Passwords.
It has the similar functionality as Show Password on Focus and will display asterisks when you click anywhere else. You can even change some basic settings of the extension as well from its options. You can disable select whether you want to show the password or not and change the password style as well. You can select to make the password bold or italic and change its colour from add-on settings.
Conclusion
Do keep this thing in mind that it is not at all recommended to make your browsers display the text behind the password field, especially if there are multiple users on your computer. There is a high probability that you will compromise your privacy and others will be able to see your passwords for different online services.
If you are the only user of your computer, there is no harm in unhiding your password but just make sure you don’t type it in front of anyone, even if its your best friend.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
