I essentially emulated the following via popen
:
save_state=$(stty -g) /bin/echo -n "Account: " read acct /bin/echo -n "Password: " stty -echo read password # this won't echo stty "$save_state" echo "" echo account = $acct and password = $password Read more at http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_to_read_password_without_echoing_c.html#Z3FtcTtMHe0gJdES.99