General Guide to Phishing on QR Codes: What Is It, Who Is at Risk, and How to Stay Safe

Technology keeps advancing every day. Many jobs have moved online, transactions remain primarily virtual, and home deliveries have become the order of shopping.

In all the developments, QR codes, a technology that first saw the light in the 1990s, came back with a bang. Quick Response codes (Abbreviated as QR codes) offered an efficient way to authorize transactions and access websites. Their fast, error-free, and efficient nature made them viral globally across several merchants and organizations.

But, it didn’t take long before cybercriminals took advantage of the innovations to defraud and steal information from unsuspecting users. QR code phishing is just a single example of the many ways cybercriminals can use to steal from and attack your business with malware. Are you wondering what this is and how it works? Keep scrolling.

QR Code. What is it, and How Does it Work?

A QR code refers to a string of text, numbers, or alpha-numerical characters that merchants give to their users and allows them to access different services. QR codes are typically URLs linked to the merchant’s official account (when they’re on payment systems) or to the merchant’s official website (or any relevant pages).

They’re two-dimensional barcodes that can store up to 4,296 characters or 7,089 digits. To use them, you’ll need to scan the code using QR code readers or scanners, a feature built into almost all smartphones’ default mobile cameras. The scanner will decrypt the codes hidden in these small square barcodes (typically black and white) and lead the user to the merchant’s official account or website.

QR codes are fast and effective. First, your customers won’t need to manually feed in the long URLs or type in your username when making payments.

Typical Uses of QR Code

QR Codes are everywhere. You must have seen the black and white barcode squares mounted on walls or published on websites or emails. A good example is if you’ve ever tried using WhatsApp on your computer. The device probably gave you a QR code to scan with your phone to access your WhatsApp account through the desktop. Other examples include:

1. To minimize the hands touching the physical menus, restaurants offer a QR code for their customers to access their menu through their website.
2. Digital shopping stores, businesses, and hospitals sometimes provide QR codes to lead customers to their payment accounts easily.
3. Cryptocurrency wallets are occasionally available for download by scanning QR codes.

What Are the Dangers Associated with QR Codes?

QR codes offer a convenient way for users to access your pages or make transactions without the fear of misspelling the URLs or the headache of typing the link’s characters. However, there are a lot of threats that this technology can bring to your business and customers.

According to the latest FBI warning, fraudsters use the technology to swindle, steal information, and scam unsuspecting users. The cases of QR code scams are rising to a worrying extent today.

Buyers can fall victim to fraudster QR codes and render their delicate information or send money to unexpected destinations. Likewise, a buyer offering to buy from you using a QR code may access your bank account, withdraw or transfer funds from your account, or ask for loans in your name.

What is QR Code Phishing?

QR code phishing doesn’t differ from typical internet phishing. It’s a social engineering bout aiming to convince you to submit your financial details, personal information, or login particulars.

The scammer embeds a malicious link in the QR code’s barcode. After scanning, the link will lead you to a page that asks for your details and enables the attacker to steal your information.

Who Is At Risk?

QR code phishing can occur online or offline. In the physical realm, QR code scammers replace the authentic QR codes on the walls of corporate offices, businesses, and government service points. There’s no way to know whether the QR code is genuine or fake unless you see a replacement sign.

Physical QR code phishing can also occur in hotels, shopping malls, and other physical businesses. For example, suppose you are at a hospital or medical center, and someone mounts a QR Sticker on a wall. In that case, the average user won’t think it is a hacker putting a sticker; they will think it is the hospital, which can be an easy vulnerability.

QR Code Phishing Emails

QR code phishing emails, also known as squishing, are the most common type of this fraud in the internet world. In this case, the scammer embeds a malicious link on a QR code and convinces you to scan to access more information, a video, website, or audio connected to the email.

Embedding the malicious links on QR codes makes it difficult for you to recognize that the website is suspicious. It helps the scammers circumvent old-style security checks that help flag malicious links in emails. Unfortunately, these traditional solutions can’t detect URLs hiding behind the QR barcodes.

In Germany, for instance, e-banking customers received emails with manipulated QR codes, purportedly from large banks. Those who scanned the QR codes found themselves on phishing websites that asked them to type their bank details.

How to Stay Safe from QR Code Phishing

The nature of QR code phishing makes it hard to control and avoid. However, these tips can help you limit the chances of you or your customers falling victims.

• Check your premises for any QR codes you didn’t place and remove the stickers.
• Before scanning a physical QR code, scrutinize to see if it’s a replacement of an authentic barcode or if it’s suspicious in any way.
• Always treat QR codes as links. Before you read the QR code attached to your email, stop to think about whether you trust the sender or genuinely need the embedded information.
• Trust your guts. Any QR code that looks or feels suspicious may be malicious. Avoid them if possible.
• IOS phones’ cameras typically can read and expose the hidden URL. Check to see if the domain name matches the URL before opening the link. If suspicious, avoid the link.
• If you’re using QR codes for transactions, ensure it’s authentic and avoid providing your ID number or bank details to persons you don’t know. Your OTPs are confidential. Treat them as such.
• Use two-factor verification to safeguard your accounts.

QR Code Phishing: Final Thoughts

QR code-related scams are on a worrying growth rate currently. The methods are upgrading every passing day. Thus, you must enhance your safety on online streets and protect your business, employees, and customers.

Avoiding scanning unknown QR codes, whether you receive them through email, WhatsApp messages, or on-premises, is your first step to staying safe. Also, you can secure your business from these scams with a reliable cybersecurity plan.?Simplitfy?professionals can help you assess the state of your company’s cyber security status. If you need more info, book a call for an assessment?https://go.simplitfy.com/schedule

Erick Solms?is the Founder of?Simplitfy?in West Palm Beach, Florida. Simplitfy provides IT and cybersecurity services to Small and Medium Business in South Florida. To contact him personally or to inquire about information technology services, please email?[email protected]?or visit?www.simplitfy.com.