Threats
Though a QR code has many useful applications, it is often seen that the fraudster misuse the same for malicious purposes. Some of the potential dangers or security threats that QR code can pose include-
- Malware attacks– In this type of threat the fraudsters create a fake QR code with a logo of Google or Apple app store, and use them so that the digital users can be automatically triggered to take action, like downloading an app from a fake website or introduce a malware into the device.
- Phishing attacks– This attack uses a QR code to lure a victim to a phishing page that hackers have designed to steal the victim's credentials, personal data or other sensitive information. In QR code phishing scam, the fraudster shares a QR code link that redirects the digital user on to a malicious website to collect sensitive personal information of the user like bank details, Aadhar number, email credentials etc.,
- Data leak– It is also possible that when a user scans a QR code it can trigger the device to place a call or text to a particular number, which compromises your mobile number to some third party. This can lead to data leak as the mobile number can be used to trace the user details like name, address, social media profile and other publicly available information. Also scanning a QR code can also share approximate location of the user and send it to some third party.