Quick Response (QR) codes are two-dimensional barcodes consisting of black and white squares arranged in a square grid on a white background.
They were developed in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, as a way to track vehicles during the manufacturing process. However, their use has since expanded beyond the manufacturing industry to other sectors such as advertising, marketing, retail, ticketing and payment systems. They are widely used throughout the world today due to their their convenience, versatility, and ability to connect the offline and online worlds.
QR codes contain a large amount of information, including text, URLs, and even multimedia content such as images and videos. They can be easily scanned using a smartphone camera and a QR code reader app, making them a convenient tool for accessing information on the go.
They are used for a variety of purposes, such as directing customers to a company's website or social media page, providing product information or discounts, making payments, and even contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the use of QR codes has become increasingly popular due to their ability to provide quick and easy access to information, making them a valuable tool for businesses and consumers alike.
While QR codes are a convenient way to share information, they also come with some security concerns:
- Malicious Codes - QR codes can be used to direct users to malicious websites, which can infect their device with malware or steal personal information.
- Phishing Attacks - QR codes can also be used in phishing attacks, where attackers use fake QR codes to trick users into giving away sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers.
- Spoofing - QR codes can be spoofed, where attackers create fake codes that look like legitimate ones but lead to malicious websites or apps. Legitimate QR codes in public areas can be easily be pasted over by compromised QR codes.
- Social Engineering - Attackers can use social engineering techniques to convince users to scan a QR code, which can lead to the installation of malware on their devices or the disclosure of sensitive information.
- Privacy Concerns - QR codes can also be used to collect personal data such as location, device information, and browsing history, which can be used for targeted advertising or other malicious purposes.
To protect yourself from these dangers and security concerns, it is recommended that you only scan QR codes from trusted sources. You should also keep your device and security software up-to-date, and use only a reputable QR code reader app that can detect and warn you about potentially malicious codes.
Consider that most scamming and phishing attempts currently received on email or text are poorly formatted, or have spelling mistakes, or bad grammar. In Singapore, the IMDA has gone on a campaign over the past few years educating the public on how callers with a +65 prefix are possibly scam calls. This may cause people to instinctively trust what appear to be legitimate local numbers. Well, the scammers have found a way to call from a non +65 number.
Phishing scams involve sending fake emails or text messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or government agency, in order to trick the recipient into giving out personal information or money. These scams often use urgent language and threats, such as claiming that the recipient's account has been compromised and that they need to provide personal information to fix it.