Spotting Base64 Encoded JSON, Certificates, and Private Keys with the Naked Eye
2025-08-06

A developer, examining a supposedly encrypted file for safe Github commit, discovered a base64 encoded JSON string within. A colleague pointed out this pattern. Surprisingly, they found that base64 encoded certificates and private keys also have similar easily-spotted characteristics, such as certificates often starting with "LS". This simple trick helps developers quickly identify sensitive information and avoid accidentally committing secrets like keys to public repositories.
Development