Problem displaying Wi-Fi passwords in Network Preferences and Keychain

I have always been able to click "show password" in my network preferences in order to find a wi-fi password that has already been entered into that computer. Now when I click the box, the characters are displayed as asterisks instead. When I check the keychain, I get the same results. I click "display characters" and the characters are displayed as asterisks. This is a very recent development and I have not been able to find any dialogue about it.

Does anyone know what is going on? I asked a friend to check his computer, and he had the same results, so it is not just mine. I am not looking for other solutions to finding the passwords -- I would like to know what has changed and if there is a way to change it back.

Thanks for the help.

 

I'll give that a try -- but even if there is a keychain error, it does not explain why the network preferences are showing asterisks.