$ stty -echo to hide the user input to be displayed on screen, whatever the user enters after this command will not be displayed in the screen. $ stty echo to make the input characters get displayed on the screen use. Enjoy the fun. ;) Ex: arul@arul-desktop:~$ stty -echo arul@arul-desktop:~$ access.log.gz examples.desktop Mohanavel.pdf snapsongs Videos btsongs label_dingbats.gif Music snapsongs1 Desktop label.gif Pictures su.jpg Documents label_webdings.gif Public Templates arul@arul-desktop:~$ stty echo arul@arul-desktop:~$ ls access.log.gz examples.desktop Mohanavel.pdf snapsongs Videos btsongs label_dingbats.gif Music snapsongs1 Desktop label.gif Pictures su.jpg Documents label_webdings.gif Public Templates -- Regards, Tha.Suresh Cooool Linux Tips & Tricks, http://gnutips.wordpress.com My experiences with Linux are here, http://thasulinux.wordpress.com