QR Code Security: Are QR Codes Safe to Use?

With the increasing number of QR code users in the U.S. will, amount to 11 million users, do QR codes have security features? 

As the demands for QR codes rise, many users are still skeptical about the security features it holds.

With the post-pandemic demands, QR codes are highly used in every way possible.

But as QR codes became mainstream, threats about their security began. 

To better understand the security of QR codes, here are some tricks and tips that you can incorporate.

So, next time when you stumble upon these QR codes, you can safeguard yourself from the threats it poses.

Are QR codes secure and safe to use?

In theory and practice, QR codes are secure. But nowadays, people handle these in the wrong way, the threats they may pose can be alarming.

There are two types of QR codes that users can consider in generating QR codes: static and dynamic QR codes.

Static QR codes, generated using a free QR code generator, allow users to have a one-time QR code generation. 

This type of QR code poses less threat as it cannot be edited.

On the other hand, dynamic QR codes are the type of QR code that allows users to generate and edit their content without the need to generate new ones.

This type of QR code could pose a threat to users. But as long as QR code generators require an account login, only the user has access to change the data inside the dynamic QR code.

QR code security risks

As much as QR codes offer fast and secure information integration, the risks they could bring to users can be appalling.

Because of that, Cybercrime experts are extending their efforts to educate digital citizens about the dangers it could do to us.

One of the tasks they give to their students is to learn about these three common QR code risks.

Phishing

Phishing is one of the most common data hacking methods cyber hackers use in retrieving sensitive data.

With the modern integration of QR code technology in every aspect of our internet living, QR codes are also used in phishing.

In this case, QRishing is a term used in using QR codes in phishing. Because of that, users have QR code security vulnerabilities and have exposed sensitive information about themselves.

The sensitive information hackers are after is your basic information such as names, birthdates, addresses, profession, and bank details.

Through these details, they can use your bank accounts to do their illegal activities.

Phishing works by embedding a login site in your landing page and prompting you to input important information like bank details.

This method can be traced as it has a limited scope, but the damage it makes is enough to make you lose access to your banking information.

Malicious Content Distribution

QR codes spice up the element of surprise in your business.

But when cyberhackers are using these QR codes in fastening malicious content distribution, these could bring issues to you and your device.

This method happens when a person scans an unidentified QR code and automatically downloads an app that contains malware software.

The community cyber hackers are targeting is the Android community.

With its “open-source feature,” Android users are exposed to greater instances of cyber attacks. Because of this, Android users should always be wary of the QR codes they are scanning.

Suspicious directory sites

This QR code security risk is mostly used to scam people from paying for the utilities and services they use.

This QR code fraud is widely found in China, the place where QR codes become famous.

Because of this, more and more users are experiencing an information breach.

This risk also disguises as ad sites that promise you to claim your prize by scanning the QR code.

Through this, QR code scams increase.

In 2019, fraudsters use this method to steal tens of thousands of Euros from its victims in the Netherlands. Arntz, Pieter (2019, July). QR code scam can clean out your bank account. Malwarebytes Labs. https://https://blog.malwarebytes.com/scams/2019/07/qr-code-scam-can-clean-out-your-bank-account/

Best practices in intensifying your QR code security with a secure QR code generator

QR codes may pose a threat when improperly handled.

But when you are vigilant enough to know the pros and cons of QR codes, you can intensify the QR code security of your QR codes and your target audience.

Because of that, QR code experts are handling some best practices in intensifying your QR code security. Here are five best practices for avoiding QR code scams.

Check its placement

Malicious QR codes can be easily detected if the QR code you are about to scan is being tampered or misplaced.

Once you encounter this situation, you can go to credible operators and report this issue. In this way, you can avoid the instances of getting scammed and save others from losing their pertinent information.

Assess the URL’s security features

If the QR code directs you to a suspicious URL, the first step you need to do is to assess the URL’s security features.

There are two ways to know the legitimacy of the URL, checking its domain authenticity and the company that associates with it. In this way, you can be sure that the URL you are checking is safe.

To check the domain’s authenticity, you can use free domain checkers available online, like URLVoid and Website SEO Checker. The other way to check the URL’s legitimacy is by checking the site’s SSL certificate.

An SSL certificate or Secure Sockets Layer certificate is a type of digital certificate that provides website authentication to sites that require encoding of sensitive information.

You can check the domain’s SSL certificate by clicking the information icon of the domain in the URL search bar.

Be aware of bit.ly links

Suspicious URLs are now integrating the use of URL shorteners to disguise them as legitimate sites.

URL shorteners such as bit.ly are free software that allows users to shorten their URLs.

Because of this, Google is having a hard time taking these sites down.

To check if the bit.ly link can be trusted, you can check its click statistics on bit.ly’s software.

But with the latest update made by bit.ly, the click statistics feature is now limited to their subscribers.

If you are a subscriber and have access to the click statistics feature of bit.ly, you can check the link’s original URL by logging in to the site and entering the bit.ly link to the address bar, and adding a “+” to the end of it. Through this, you can view the link’s origin and see if that link is safe to access.

Avoid giving sensitive information on suspicious login sites

Users tend to unknowingly provide their sensitive information to sites they think are safe to use. Because of this, more users become victims of internet scams.

To avoid this from happening, users should refrain from carelessly giving out their information to every website they encounter.

By carefully checking the website’s certification, you can determine which website you are going to share your information with.

In this way, you will avoid instances of getting scammed by cyber hackers.

Install and use security scanner apps on your devices

One great way to bar cyber hackers from collecting data on your devices is through the use of trusted and reliable security reader apps.

By installing one, you can safeguard your data and secure your devices from data breaches and other threats.

How do QR codes intensify information security?

With modern applications to existing technologies, software, and websites that deal with information exchange intensify their information security.

With the use of QR code technology, apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Instagram are integrating the use of it to secure their users’ information and prevent hackers from stealing their identities.

Because of that, QR codes become the essential modern-day solution to fighting identity and data thefts.

To learn how QR codes intensify information security, here are two use cases that you can agree with.

Two-factor authentication

According to the latest QR code statistics, 90% of the population will have access to high-speed internet in 2020, and accessing sites that require data exchange will become easy to access. 

Because of this, internet sites are struggling to secure their servers.

To solve this issue, developers are integrating the use of QR codes in their login prompts to secure accurate user information exchange.

Make sure to use a reliable QR code generator for certificates with security. 

In this way, they can secure their client’s data and avoid information leakage.

Banking and payment transactions

Today, banks and online payment services are integrating the use of QR codes in their clients’ banking and payment transactions.

With the QR code technology’s ability to do two-factor authentication in logins, banks are able to secure their customer’s funds.

Through this, their customers trust them and recommend them to their friends.

QR code generator is safe: How to tell if a QR code generator is secure?

QR code security is involved in having a secure QR code generator.

If you are inspired to start your QR code journey, and you want to make sure that the QR code generator you use is safe and secure, then the following tips are for you.

Check for an SSL certificate

QR code generators usually require you to enter sensitive information like email, passwords, and banking details.

Because of this, the Certificate Authority Security Council (CASC) campaigns for the use of SSL certificates in operating a domain.

Assess the domain through the use of domain checkers

If you are worried about the QR code generator’s performance on the internet, you can always assess its domain authority and rank through the use of domain checkers.

In this way, you can be sure that the QR code generator that you are using is known by users who are also integrating the use of QR codes.

Check the domain’s interface

One way to test if the QR code generator is secure is by observing its website layout or interface.

A useful and secure QR code generator has a user-friendly interface that even a five-year-old can operate it.

Because of this, more users are recommending the use of these kinds of QR code generators, and that is one of the tips on how to check if the QR code generator is secure.

Through this, you can intensify your QR code security.

Furthermore, you can also check for brands that are using them. 

Information QR code generators collect from users

QR code generators collect information from their users for them to provide statistical reports to them. Because of this QR code tracking capacity, users can improve their marketing campaigns and strategies.

The data gathered from each QR code scan also allows the users to gauge the performance of their QR code campaigns.

Once scanned, they will get a QR code notification via email as well. To know the data QR code generators, here are the following data they collect.

Location

One of the main data users usually collect when incorporating the use of dynamic QR codes in their marketing campaign is looking out for is their scanners’ location.

In this way, they can know from what city or area most of their audience came from.

You can view your audience’s/scanner’s location by logging in to your account to the QRTIGER platform and proceeding with tracking your QR code’s data.

The data that you can obtain when looking for the location of the scans are the region, country, and city of the scans made.

Date and number of scans made

It is also known as the timeline data. You can sort the number of scans made within a day, week, month, month, year, and the total of scans made in more than a year or years.

Through this, you can assess the pattern on the days your QR code performs within a given timeframe.

Device type

One great way to improve your QR code content is to know about the devices used by the person who scans it. The type of device used in scanning QR codes can be determined as Android, IOS for iPhone users, and PC for desktop and laptop communities.

Through this, they can know what content they will optimize and what OS ecosystem has the most QR code scans.

Intensify QR code security with QRTIGER -the most secure QR code generator

QR codes, in nature, are secure and reliable, but as fraudsters are upgrading their tricks, the QR code’s security is in question.

Because of that, users are having doubts about scanning these QR codes. To regain people’s trust, intensifying QR code security can be the best solution.

You can intensify your QR code security and gain your audience’s trust By partnering with a secure and professional QR code generator.

This way, you can continue to indulge them to start their QR code journey without worrying about getting your information stolen by cyber hackers.

Should you have more questions about QR codes, you can email us directly to our website now. 

FAQs

How to make a secure QR code?

To make a secure QR code, you need to find the most secure and advanced QR code generator. QRTIGER allows you to create different QR code types that are safe to use.