Security News

Quick-response codes used by a COVID-19 contact-tracing program were hijacked by a man who simply slapped up scam QR codes on top to redirect users to an anti-vaccination website, according to local police. Fake QR codes were placed over genuine COVID safe check-ins and once scanned, it is understood it led people to a website with information against vaccinations.

"Early in the pandemic, restaurants were using QR codes as menus or payment options, but as the pandemic continued throughout 2020, consumers used QR codes more frequently for practical things like visiting a doctor's office or picking up a prescription," according to Ivanti's report, issued on Wednesday. "Meanwhile, social activities like dining out or enjoying a drink at a bar saw QR code usage decrease in that six-month period. Even offices and places of work saw an increase in usage going from 11 percent to 14 percent, emphasizing the shift in how QR codes have been used during the pandemic."

57% of respondents to a new Ivanti study claim to have noticed an increase in the usage of QR codes since mid-March 2020. Early in the pandemic, restaurants were using QR codes as menus or payment options, but as the pandemic continued throughout 2020, consumers used QR codes more frequently for practical things like visiting a doctor's office or picking up a prescription - with an increase from 9% in 2020 to 14% in 2021.

Incognia announced the launch of its fraud detection solution designed for retailers, restaurants and payment providers leveraging QR codes for contactless payments. With consumers ready to re-engage with vendors using contactless methods, health and security are top of mind as businesses push for faster adoption of contactless QR payments.

My company, MobileIron, wanted to better understand current QR code trends, so in September we conducted a survey of more than 2,100 consumers across the U.S. and the U.K. It confirmed that QR codes are indeed more widely used today. It's why, if mobile employees are using their personal devices to access business apps and scan potentially risky QR codes, enterprise IT should start taking a much closer look at their mobile security approach.

Sixty-four percent of respondents stated that a QR code makes life easier in a touchless world - despite a majority of people lacking security on their mobile devices, with 51% of respondents stating they do not have or do not know if they have security software installed on their mobile devices. QR codes skyrocketed in popularity and use during the pandemic 84% of people have scanned a QR code before, with 32% most recently having scanned a QR code in the past week and 26% most recently having scanned a QR code in the past month.

QR codes - the "QR" is short for "Quick response" - allows a user to scan a special code with their phone's camera, to automatically perform an action. Sixty-four percent of respondents said that QR codes make life easier in a no-touch world.

According to cryptocurrency enthusiast and Director of Security at MyCrypto, Harry Denley, a wily scammer has been operating a network of fake bitcoin QR code generators to dupe people out of their bitcoins. Bitcoin uses addresses as conduits to send and receive bitcoin payments.

QR codes have been around since 1994, but their creator is worried. They need a security update, he says.

The worldwide market for 3D-printed parts is a $5 billion business with a global supply chain involving the internet, email, and the cloud – creating a number of opportunities for counterfeiting...