Password Security - The end to password masking?

[Tiberius]

Jakob Nielson, the "usability guru" published an article last month, saying how users choose short and easy passwords because they have trouble typing them when all that comes out are ***** (http://www.useit.com/alertbox/passwords.html)

I agree somewhat with him, but I don't think password masking should end. Instead, I've come up with two possible solutions:

http://tgset.com/password/

The key thing I went for was a simple way to implement, and my JavaScript code is tiny; so much so that the examples could be easily.

Comments? Queries? Criticisms? More importantly...any suggestions for other solutions for me to try to implement?

[Kyuuketsuki]

I guess he has (you have) a point ... I think the focus idea is a bit cumbersome, the check box idea is better but it seems to me a better way still would be to have some hover or click & hold button that reveals the password only until the users stops (a dead-man's switch like idea).

Kyu

[fr0d0]

The reveal password trick exists already in wireless keys for example. Perhaps for this very reason, as they can be so long. An automatic focus event circumvents security so is untenable.