How do you view passwords in Linux?

Answer 1

Most Unix systems no longer store the passwords in the password file; it is stored in a private file called /etc/shadow, only accessible by the root account. The passwords are stored in encrypted form in that file.

Answer 2

Passwords are hashed in linux, it's a one way conversion, you can't just view the password.

There are password finding programs, but they will take a long time to work and they are unlikely to show the real password used if the original password was well chosen.

Answer 3

Passwords are stored in hashed form in either /etc/password or /etc/shadow.

Answer 4

Typically passwords exist in /etc/shadow. They are encrypted and private to the administrator (root) account.