contains a password encrypted with a DES derived algorithm (see module
\refmodule{crypt}\refbimodindex{crypt}). However most modern unices
use a so-called \emph{shadow password} system. On those unices the
-field \code{pw_passwd} only contains a asterisk (\code{'*'}) or the
+\var{pw_passwd} field only contains an asterisk (\code{'*'}) or the
letter \character{x} where the encrypted password is stored in a file
-\file{/etc/shadow} which is not world readable.}
+\file{/etc/shadow} which is not world readable. Whether the \var{pw_passwd}
+field contains anything useful is system-dependent. If available, the
+\module{spwd} module should be used where access to the encrypted password
+is required.}
It defines the following items: