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Mitigating Malware risks with QR Codes

published December 16th, 2011 | categories: Code | all categories

QR codes are a great marketing tool for those who want a little more innovation to their campaign. These codes have been in use since 1994, when the Japanese created them. However, a major problem still exists – reading them safely. The shipping business was one of the first to begin using them on a wide scale as a tool to inventory and track packages. As QR codes became mainstream in social media and advertising, those with malicious intentions created codes that helped spread malware.

Unfortunately, Android based mobile phones are more prone to security breaches from malicious QR codes. Because of the open-source nature of the Android platform, hackers have found more unique ways of tapping into the code and execution pathways. According to Security firm McAffee, the dominant security risks for mobile platforms includes Android and Java technologies.

How to stay safe

QR codes take a relatively great technology and turn it into a roulette wheel. You never really know what you are going to get. Below are a couple of recommendations to help you stay safe in this new world of mobile computing and QR codes.

use a mobile QR code-/barcode-scanning app that previews URLs (see a list of recommended scanners below)
avoid scanning codes from questionable sources
if in doubt, save the QR code image and use a web-based scanner to decode the URL
don’t scan them – a kind of QR code abstinence

Recommended QR Code Scanners

Android: Google Goggles or Barcode Scanner

iOS: Red Laser or Bar-Code

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Mitigating Malware risks with QR Codes

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