Risks of QR Codes

Although it was created in 1994, since March 2020 the QR Code is present in many of our daily actions, since using this system is a measure to minimize Covid-19 infections.

But we should know something about QR codes.

What is a QR Code?

It is a matrix of dots or two-dimensional barcode, which stores encoded data and usually redirects us to a web content where we find encoded data and usually redirects us to a web content where we find the information we are interested in.

The reading of these codes is usually done through the camera of our smartphone or through previously downloaded applications in these, functioning as a small scanner very easy to use.

Benefits of QR Codes

The major benefit of QR codes is that we can quickly and easily access texts, contact addresses, telephone numbers, emails, links to applications or web pages, payment management, authentication for various purposes, such as the use of online accounts or Wifi identifier, among others.

Security risks in the use of QR Codes

The most common risks that may affect QR Code users are as follows:

Malware: we already know that malware is any malicious software that can infiltrate devices without the owner’s consent and usually causes damage such as loss of information, encryption through computer viruses such as Trojans.

Phishing: This technique aims to steal your credentials to access your personal information, such as passwords, credit cards, or similar, using URLs similar to those of reliable companies or recognized institutions. In other words, there is identity theft to gain access to your most valuable information.

Malicious QR codes: Cybercriminals can print fake QR codes and place them in place of legitimate ones, and send them in chain emails. They are very difficult to detect, hence their dangerousness and the ease of falling into the trap.

Qrjacking or session hijacking: normally this practice is carried out through the use of social engineering, where they request the scanning of a QR code to start a session, but the QR Code is modified and when entering the credentials of the user who wants to log in, they are hijacked, accessing the personal account information covertly.

Apps with loopholes: nothing is perfect, and neither are apps. Some of them may have bugs, and these are where cybercriminals can find the gateway to infect any device with malware.

Precautions

Scan QR codes that are of real interest to you and provided by people or entities you trust.

Watch out for stickers that cover other QR codes, as cybercriminals can place them over the original QR and cause some of the risk situations described above.

There is a step prior to accessing the information you want, in which scanning shows you before the information of the final site. If it is not what you are looking for, abort the operation.

Companies

We recommend the elaboration of corporate Security Policies that contemplate all risks such as the one exposed with QR codes, so that the Personnel using corporate computing devices have the necessary information to avoid security risks in corporate information.

Business Adapter® data protection in Valencia helps you

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