Methods for avoiding bash history logging?

One possible solution is to stop logging bash history is:

set +o history

and to reset, that is to start logging again:

set -o history

I guess you have .bash_profile, and this startup file calling .bashrc? Do you have write permission on .bash_profile?

Otherwise, if you just don't want to log some commands, run

$ unset HISTFILE

then all commands afterwards won't be logged within that session.


On stackoverflow they had some decent answers:

  • Add a space to your command.
  • Add [ \t]* to HISTIGNORE
  • Add ignorespace to your HISTCONTROL environment variable

Although not all of them may apply for your situation, those seems like the only options.