QR Code Safety

QR Codes are used almost everywhere today and with good reason. They are easy to use and allow people to engage more directly with the information they are after.

But QR Codes are also a popular choice of cybercrime. QR Codes posted in public areas can easily be tampered with and changed to direct people to malicious websites, and with the data that mobile devices have or can access the impact can be very high.

Attackers are use QR Codes to also steal money by presenting them as payment options on things like parking meters. Here is an example of this happing in Ottawa City warns of parking scam that uses fake QR codes | Ottawa Citizen

The FBI has a shared some information as to how to protect yourself from QR Code scams. Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Cybercriminals Tampering with QR Codes to Steal Victim Funds

Here is a good article from the Government of Canada’s Get Cyber Safe blog about new and emerging technologies and the security risks they pose. New technology – Get Cyber Safe