Have you ever wondered what a QR code is? I did when I first
heard of it. So, what is a QR code? I would say it is next generation barcode (hmm,
interesting! isn’t it?). There are many interesting things to know about QR
codes. QR codes are first designed for automotive industry, but today they are
everywhere, in magazines, on business cards, on buses, on billboards, on train
tickets, on gravestones (Yes, you read it right. Can you believe it!!)
With MasterCard rolling
out the first trial of its QR mobile application which allows people to
interact and initiate payments via QR codes, Google testing its login authentication via QR codes, the future of QR codes seems quite promising.But hold on, don’t just go around and scan every QR code you see. Some QR codes may contain malicious websites in a new avenue to steal identities and commit fraud. Unlike spam e-mails or malicious websites, we cannot judge whether a QR code can be trusted or not by just looking at it. So when you scan a QR code and the website asks you to enter your personal information/credit card information or notice something phishy, quit the code immediately. Here are some of the tips by AVG anti-virus cautioning us about malicious QR codes.
QR codes give us a lot of
information but only when used with caution.
After introducing the source and diverse application of QR code, you proposed a very important topic that we should pay special attention on malicious websites, which QR code might contain. Your warning is very useful and timely. Because of QR code’s fast readability and widely spreading, many people might scan it through their cellphones without caution. Since we cannot understand QR code before we scan it, I guess it will be a good idea to embed a smart Malicious URL firewall to code-scan APP.
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting factoid that Master Card is using QR codes to initiate payments. I have already seen several super market chains using self-checkout counters to speed up the checkout process, it seems with the help of QR codes and Apps like these, any smart phone can be used as a self-checkout counter obviating the need for supermarket provided self-checkout counters.
ReplyDeleteHowever QR code exploits such as the ones, you mentioned do caution us if not dampen our enthusiasm for such exciting technology.
Awesome post about QR codes. I love the enthusiasm when reading this! It had different information about QR codes that I haven't heard about before which kept this interesting. The hyperlinked articles were also interesting reads, so thank you for those. I agree with Jingmei about how someone should implement firewalls for QR codes. Sounds like a smart fix. Cheers!
ReplyDelete