Nowadays, QR codes have become a necessary component of our everyday life. These two-dimensional codes provide a quick and easy way to retrieve information on a variety of items, including product packaging and menus at restaurants. But ease doesn't come without risk, and scammers are using QR codes more and more to conceal malicious links so they can steal your personal data.

Quishing has become more common as QR codes have become more widely used. The vulnerable individuals who carelessly scan these codes without thinking twice are being exploited by cybercriminals. Scammers frequently utilise complex methods to generate seemingly harmless QR codes that, when scanned, take consumers to phishing websites or install malware on their devices.

Typical Strategies Employed by Scammers

• Phishing Attacks: Scammers frequently distribute QR codes through phishing emails. Senders of these emails may pose as reputable organisations like banks or government authorities and ask them to scan the QR code in order to address an urgent issue. When the code is scanned, visitors are sent to a fake website where their personal data and login credentials are collected.
• Distribution of Malicious Software: Certain harmful QR codes have the capability to initiate the downloading and installation of malware onto the user's device. This malicious software has the potential to jeopardise the security of personal information, including passwords, banking credentials, and other confidential data.  
• Deceptive URLs and Harmful Websites: Frequently, scammers generate QR codes that direct people to fake websites that imitate authentic ones. These fake websites could ask for login credentials, personal information, or even infect the user's device with malware.

How to Guard Against Quishing

ACSC advise you to do the following to lessen your chance of falling victim to a quishing attack:

• Navigate manually to online payment services through a recognised and reliable web address.
• Consider your options before clicking and consult Scamwatch for tips on known QR code scams.
• Communicate with your email security software provider to discuss the technical measures within their products that can be employed to counter image-based cybersecurity threats.
• Download files and software from reputable websites or app stores rather than using QR codes.
• Update the software on your personal and professional devices to the most recent version and download security fixes as soon as they become available.
• Ask your staff members and associates to verify the authenticity of emailed quishing attempts and report any questionable emails to the IT security division or service providers.
• Extend company email policy to prohibit staff from interacting with QR codes found in emails.
• To strengthen the security of your brand's QR codes and stop cybercriminals from taking advantage of your trusted brand, use a secure QR code generator.
• Discover how to recognise socially engineered messages and recognise scams.
• Inform your loved ones, acquaintances, and coworkers about the dangers of using QR codes in relation to cyber security.

While QR codes make things easy to find and use, it's important to be careful to avoid scams. To stay safe, check where the QR code comes from, and keep an eye out for possible dangers. By being cautious and knowing about new risks, you can use QR codes without falling for tricks from people trying to do harm. As technology gets better, we need to be smart to make sure our online experience stays safe and secure.