# How to decrypt a string given as part of a game/prank? [closed]

I have been given an obviously encoded string, that looks similar to this:

F1WFBhcCFwkSS1GVMU1MGABFJaU1MCHRYNCBU0RQRBhFGUkBBSxAFBxEEHx8FS1lWBEHFBUTGAZR
U05BV0RMPDwcTFx0GQFVREhcJGx8XCRgTHQBG1UkBBSwAYHxsCGR8FS1lWVAYAEBgIGBAZRVU05B
VQkAAChBRX1RGOS1VMU1MWB1GxRASwg=


I also have a hint toward the passphrase, but nothing about the actual algorithm used for the encryption.

Unfortunately, I know very little about cryptography. How would one go about decoding this message, i.e. manually trying different passwords/decryption algorithms (no brute-force)? Which software can I use?

• In what context were you given the cipher text. Is it likely that it is using a well known encryption algorithm? Have you tried a simple ceaser cipher? Need a little more details to help out. – Kurtis Schlienger Jun 2 '17 at 19:28
• It was given as a reward in a programming contest. I assume I’m expected to decrypt it. I also assume it indeed uses a well-known algorithm, but I wouldn’t know which algorithms are well-known. Will look up ceaser cipher. – CBlew Jun 2 '17 at 19:38
• You were given an encrypted message as a reward? what a rip-off.... – Kurtis Schlienger Jun 2 '17 at 19:45