{"id":2042,"date":"2011-10-30T10:14:33","date_gmt":"2011-10-30T04:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qadit.com\/blog\/?p=2042"},"modified":"2011-10-31T11:26:41","modified_gmt":"2011-10-31T05:56:41","slug":"are-qr-codes-safe-to-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qadit.com\/blog\/are-qr-codes-safe-to-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Are QR codes safe to use?"},"content":{"rendered":"

QR – Quick Response – codes look like this:
\n

\"\"<\/a>
QR code for the URL of the English Wikipedia Mobile main page<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\n
\nAn ad for a dance class could have a QR code in it. You would need to capture it with your smart phone camera. You will immediately be taken to the website of the dance class where a video of a class in progress starts playing. <\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\nAll that one needs to interact with QR codes is a QR code reader in one’s smartphone.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\nQR codes are 2D barcodes that are being used in advertising, marketing and social networking.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\nHow businesses can use QR codes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\n– QR codes in print ads can take prospects directly to a particular element – like a video or a product specification sheet – that the business wishes to showcase.
\n– The prospective customer does not need to type the URL – likely to be www.danceclass.com\/videoofclasss or some such long string – typing mistakes are avoided. A customised URL can be used to track traffic that flows from QR codes.
\n– The customer’s interaction with the business is swift and a bit more exciting – the business provides a ‘quick response’ to it’s customer.
\n– QR codes can store an email address. A person clicks on the QR code and their email client pops up with the “To”, “Subject” fields pre-filled
\n– You can add a QR code to your business card and prospects can add you easily to their contacts list with just a click of a button
\n– Add QR codes to product packaging and link to user manuals, spec-sheets
\n– A QR code on an event ticket can link to a google map<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\nSo, this being a security blog, we eventually get around to the risk in this technology; how is this technology being misused.<\/strong>
\nA QR code can contain upto 2000 bytes. What it does is opaque to the human eye.
\n– A malicious QR code recently made the user send an SMS to a premium service.
\n– Emails may be sent out unknown to the user
\n– A QR code can be a mobile malware – attacking automated processess using SQL injection, command injection & fraud
\n– All kinds of information stored in the phone may be hijacked by a malicious user- emails, contact list, notes, URLs visited, passwords stored in browser etc.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

\nIs there anything you can do<\/strong> about it?
\n– Click only on QR codes from reputable businesses
\n– Get a good QR code reader – Read reviews before you download one
\n– If the site asks for personal information, beware.
\n– If you store sensitive information in your mobile phone, consider using a mobile anti-virus for your smartphone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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