But those can be a little dirtier and a lot more dangerous than you might think.
So what can we do about it?
We’ve all been trained never to click a link in an email, even if it looks legit.
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When we think of links, we think of URLs that take us to websites.
URLs are dangerous, as Lurey’s parking meter phishing scam illustrates, but links can do much more.
On our phones, links can trigger apps.
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A Google Maps link opens in the map app, for example.
“What happens if the ink on the QR code decays over time?
Will you wind up linking to a totally different website?
What happens if someone changes the QR code with a marker?”
The same thing could happen with advertising posters, menus, or any QR code.
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Protecting Yourself
Step one in protecting yourself is to be aware.
Never scan a QR code unless you are certain that it is safe.
Which really means, never scan a QR code ever.
One tip is to switch off automatic QR code scanning in your phone’s prefs, if possible.
But really, the best protection is to be careful.
“In most instances, the information is web-hosted and accessible directly on the provider’s website somewhere.”
If the link isn’t available, don’t scan it.
