Which file contains encrypted passwords for users on a Linux system?

The file that contains encrypted passwords for users on a Linux system is located at /etc/shadow. This file is specifically designed to hold not just password hashes, but also password expiration and aging information, helping to enhance system security.

In contrast, the /etc/passwd file includes basic user account information such as user names, user IDs, group IDs, and home directory paths, but it does not store encrypted password data for security reasons. The other options, /usr/bin/passwords and /etc/users, do not correspond to standard files in Linux for storing user password data or user account details. Therefore, /etc/shadow is the correct and secure file for managing user password information on a Linux system.