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( noobie questions ) I'm trying to type a command in Kali Linux, but nothing appears on the screen, as if the keyboard were locked and a second problem.

0
Medium
Published: 09/27/2026 (09/27/2026, 23:00:43 UTC)
Source: Reddit Cybersecurity

Description

A user new to Kali Linux reports difficulty entering commands in the terminal, specifically that keyboard input does not appear when typing a password after issuing 'sudo su'. The user also asks for confirmation on command syntax for extracting a tar.gz file and expresses general struggles with Linux command line usage and errors. This is a help request from a beginner rather than a security vulnerability or threat.

Reddit Discussion

r/cybersecurity·posted by u/Informal-Trifle-55
00

Hello,

I’m just starting out in IT (specifically cybersecurity) and would like to change career paths and take a training course (well, if I can manage it).

I’ve installed Kali Linux and started following YouTube tutorials, but I’m running into difficulties: I keep encountering errors, or things just don’t go as expected.

In the attached photo, I type `sudo su` and press Enter, but I can’t seem to enter the password, even though I’m definitely pressing the keys on my keyboard... , photo : https://ibb.co/KcdGH153

Second problem: I’m following a comprehensive YouTube course on ethical hacking and cybersecurity. I type `ls`, then `cd Bureau` (to access the desktop) and press Enter; then I type `tar -xvf VMWareTools-10.0.0-2977683.tar.gz`.

Can you confirm if what I’ve written is correct?

What am I doing wrong?

I do 3D modeling and Unity C# programming, and I’m very interested in hacking—and especially cybersecurity.

I’m really struggling with Linux in general. I’ve installed Ubuntu, Lubuntu, and Debian on my virtual machine, but I keep getting errors. Where should I start?

Do spaces in the terminal matter? Every dot, number, or letter? I had this same problem when I started with C# programming; even though I write everything correctly, I keep getting errors or command failures.

Links cited in this discussion

AI-Powered Analysis

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AILast updated: 09/27/2026, 23:17:49 UTC

Technical Analysis

This report describes a novice user's experience with Kali Linux terminal behavior, where password input is not echoed on screen after 'sudo su' command, which is normal behavior for Linux terminals to hide password input. The user also inquires about command correctness for extracting VMware Tools and general Linux usage issues. No security vulnerability or exploit is described.

Potential Impact

There is no security impact or vulnerability indicated. The described behavior is standard terminal behavior for password input and user confusion with Linux commands.

Defensive Guidance

No security remediation is required. Users should be informed that password input is intentionally hidden in Linux terminals for security reasons. Basic Linux command line tutorials and practice are recommended to improve proficiency.

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Technical Details

Source Type
reddit
Subreddit
cybersecurity
Reddit Score
0
Discussion Level
minimal
Content Source
reddit_link_post
Post Type
link
Newsworthiness Assessment
{"score":22,"reasons":["external_link","non_newsworthy_keywords:question","established_author","very_recent"],"isNewsworthy":true,"foundNonNewsworthy":["question"]}
Has External Source
true
Trusted Domain
false

Threat ID: 6ab9a414f7a7c5410699b011

Added to database: 09/27/2026, 23:17:40 UTC

Last enriched: 09/27/2026, 23:17:49 UTC

Last updated: 09/28/2026, 04:17:34 UTC

Views: 9

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