/bin/ls vs .dotted files

[sad at bestmx.ru]

Dan Cross пишет:
> On Thu, Sep 13, 2012 at 7:45 PM, sad at bestmx.ru <sad at bestmx.ru> wrote:
>> /bin/ls (without arguments)
>> if called by root-user
>> lists ".dotted" files
>> WHY????????????????????????
>
> Probably a better question is why 'dotfiles' are ever hidden by ls.
> This was an historical mistake that never got corrected.

maybe it was, maybe not.
it is easy to accept either behavior unless it is constantly changing.
and i found the hiding files a bit useful and i usually rely on it.

> As for why the default behavior for root is different, it's probably
> to help system administrators see past the munchkin trick of intruders
> trying to cover their tracks by hiding things in, e.g., dot
> directories.  If one runs 'ls' as root and sees, '.h4x0Rd00d', it's a
> good indication that you've got a problem.

you shall NOT appeal to security in UI questions ever
bound "security" and "hidden" in one sentence and you will shot your own 
leg off.