QR hacks are hard to detect since the codes can appear anywhere - on a screen, business card, coupon, billboard, or piece of mail. Once this occurs, the hacker can download other malicious software or extract information from the device, leading to potentially catastrophic results for the victim. Additionally, once scanned, the QR code quickly transports the user to the malicious website or download before they can do anything to prevent further harm.Īccording to Parameter Security, once a user scans a malicious QR code, their phone allows a Trojan download, which is back-end malware that reports information back to the hackers’ servers.
With QR codes, the disguise is built-in - every code looks more or less the same, and mobile users are accustomed to scanning them in all kinds of environments. For years, cyber criminals have built out scam emails to disguise dangerous links or attachments as harmless information from a friend or co-worker. Using QR codes to disguise malicious intent makes a lot of sense from a hacker’s point of view. QR, or Quick Response codes, are like barcodes that can be scanned by smartphone cameras to direct users to a website.
In this mobile era, one of the most dangerous threats is hackers’ use of QR codes to install malware. CheckPoint estimates a 50% increase in mobile malware attacks in 2019, primarily correlated to a rise in mobile banking usage. However, as the mobile market has grown, with more people logging into accounts on their mobile devices than ever, hackers have begun targeting smartphones and tablets.
By now, most computer users know the risks that hackers pose to data and accounts accessed through their laptop or desktop computer.