The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned the public about QR codes in its recently published blog and reminded that caution should be exercised when scanning these matrix codes. Of course, there are security and privacy concerns underlying these warnings. The agency underlines that malicious people can put QR codes in inconspicuous places or catch you off guard by sending them via text or email.Be careful when scanning QR codes
Cybersecurity company Trellix says it found “more than 60,000 examples of QR code attacks” in the third quarter of this year alone. It was underlined that the most popular scams are payroll and HR personnel impersonators and mail scams. Scammers also place QR codes in areas such as parking meters, directing people to a fake payment site.
To avoid being victimized by bad code, the FTC recommends that you ignore unexpected emails. It’s also worth checking the URL that appears on your screen while browsing to make sure it’s a site you trust. On the other hand, even a legitimate QR code can show you a broken and meaningless shortened web address, so if you know which site you want to visit, it’s best to go directly there.
Experts also recommend using strong passwords and two-factor authentication to secure your devices and accounts. Of course, there are things to do other than these suggestions. For example, don’t download a QR code scanning app, built-in camera apps for Android and iOS already do that. But in the end, it all comes down to the user. In the case of QR codes, if you are not sure that the code is accurate or reliable, it is better not to scan it.
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