Comment Always starts in the same place (Score 2, Informative) 83
You start with known encryption methods (simplest first) and by process of elimination you keep going until you get a clue. A good cryptologist has information about everything from Bacon's method to the most recent ciphers and their algorithms.
The folks who cracked the Enigma started the same way. The Polish started the process, sent info to England where it was completed.
A code fragment that short, though, would be darned impossible to crack unless you get more.
But you can already see patterns: word length, multiple "+" characters (maybe an indicator of end-of-phrase or something?).
But that's -- basically -- how you do it. Educated guesses and grunt work (either by you or computer). Unless it's Quantum encryption which is spoiled as soon as you intercept, so you can't decode it.
Check out The Code Book for some great -- albeit basic -- information about methodology and history.
The folks who cracked the Enigma started the same way. The Polish started the process, sent info to England where it was completed.
A code fragment that short, though, would be darned impossible to crack unless you get more.
But you can already see patterns: word length, multiple "+" characters (maybe an indicator of end-of-phrase or something?).
But that's -- basically -- how you do it. Educated guesses and grunt work (either by you or computer). Unless it's Quantum encryption which is spoiled as soon as you intercept, so you can't decode it.
Check out The Code Book for some great -- albeit basic -- information about methodology and history.
