use Term::ReadKey;

print "Enter your passwd: ";
ReadMode 'noecho';
$passwd = ReadLine 0;
chomp $passwd;
ReadMode 'normal';
[download]

From the Perl Cookbook, pg, 530.

{EDIT: Dammit! arturo beat me by 2 minutes!}

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID.  redmist.
AUTHOR.  God (Larry Wall/Alan Cox hybrid).
CONTACT.  redmist@users.sourceforge.net