When you type into a secure text field, a series of 'dot' characters are displayed rather than the characters you type. There are many examples of secure text fields in Mac OS X: the login screen, any administrator authentication dialog (such as for software updates), creating an encrypted disk image in Disk Utility, entering web form login information in Safari, etc. Most of my computer use is at home, so secure text fields provide me with little or no benefit. Nobody is looking over my shoulder. However, secure text fields do hinder me quite a bit. I've failed to type in the correct password or authentication information countless times because I can't see what I'm typing. I would like to request a standard way to show typing in secure text fields. One example of this would be the "Show Typing" checkmark when entering a new keychain item in Keychain Access. There are many possible ways to implement show typing, however. Another way would be a keyboard shortcut. You might even have a System Preference to always show typing in secure text fields. A show typing feature would provide benefit to users by reducing the wasted time as well as the frustration involved with mistyping passwords and authentication information into secure text fields. It could also prevent irrecoverable data loss. For example, if you create an encrypted disk image and accidentally type the wrong password, you'll never be able to open the disk image again. It's true that you have to type in the password twice, but it's very easy to make the same typo twice in a row, such as holding down the shift key slightly too long in a case-sensitive password.