QR codes—those square blocks of black and white pixels—have become ubiquitous, appearing on everything from restaurant menus to store products and mall posters. They provide a low-cost, easy way for businesses to link consumers to websites, store discounts, promotional campaigns, and mobile payments. However, they’re not entirely secure.
QR codes gained popularity as contactless transactions increased during the pandemic. Over one-third of smartphone users have scanned a QR code on a product or at a restaurant or bar in the last year. Unfortunately, many mobile users are unaware of the risks associated with QR codes.
While hackers cannot easily tamper with the pixelated dots themselves, they can embed malicious software into QR codes. These hacked codes can redirect users to infected websites, trigger malicious downloads, or capture sensitive information. Once malware is installed on a smartphone, it can:
Most smartphones have built-in QR code reading capabilities, making it tempting to scan them. However, simply refraining from scanning random QR codes is your best defense against scammers. Additionally, there are other precautions you can take.
Some financial institutions, like Alpine Bank, enhance security by including their logo inside their QR codes, offering users a visual assurance of authenticity (see example below).
