What is this: base64_decode

[listerdl]

Any idea?? I am very confused - is it a reference to a backdoor?

Just wondering thanks

[DrDOS]

It's a way of transferring data across the web, like UTF-8 and binary. Just search for it and you will find a lot of info.

[listerdl]

thanks -

I guess I was asking b/c a lot of the stuff I read was in a hacking context - and this line of php was from a wordpress blog i run, hence my concern....

You reckon its not a hack or can this such transfer protocols suggest a breach?

Here is the full line:

$imgData = base64_decode("R0lGODlhUAAMAIAAAP8AAP///yH5BAAHAP8ALAAAAABQAAwAA

Thanks

[tangoforce]

Bit hard to explain in great detail in a short post but it basically base64 is text that represents something such as a string, file, filestream etc.

The base64 text can then be sent via http, email etc. If you open a .eml (email file from outlook express) in something like notepad++ that has a file attached, you will see a long column of what appears to be random letters and numbers at the bottom. That is a base64 encoded file.

At the other end, it can be decoded to restore the original content.