From paying for snacks at the deli to putting gas in the car, millions of people use QRs when the time comes to pay, but how safe are they? QR, which stands for Quick Response, are contactless merchant payment systems. Users make electronic payments by scanning a QR using a smartphone application or digital wallet.

QR payments have become mainstream and are today used massively around the world. But QR technology is not new. They first appeared about a decade ago. Advancements made in digital financial services and the embracement of smartphone technology equipped with cameras to scan QRs drove their growth. In addition, recent changes in consumer behavior, and the pandemic, accelerated all digital and contactless forms of payments.

Related: Looks Like A Movie But It’s A Real $3.6 Billion Stolen Crytpo Bust

How safe are QR payments? The FBI says that while QR codes are not malicious, it is crucial to practice caution when using them. The FBI recently issued a warning due to increased cybercriminal activity related to malicious QRs. Both digital and physical QR codes are being tempered. Cybercriminals are getting creative. Some affected QR codes will redirect the victim’s payments, while others are more intrusive and access a device. QRs have also been modified to gain sensitive personal data and financial information.

The Risks And How To Keep QR Payments Safe

FBI Cyber Security Image
FBI Cyber Security Image

The majority of cybercriminals, hacking, phishing and other forms of digital attacks require the victim to interact in some way with a malicious action. Unfortunately, QR presents the perfect opportunity to do this. While you might think it is unlikely that your neighborhood coffee shop will have its QR hacked, the truth is QRs are everywhere. Sometimes QRs are found in large areas with little supervision, meaning malicious codes can hide in plain sight.

The FBI recognizes that the use of QRs has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic giving cybercriminals an advantage and opportunity to steal data and even embed malware to gain access to the victim’s device. When using a QR code, tips to have in mind are: always check the URL to see if it looks authentic, practice caution when asked to enter information after scanning a QR, and double-check for stickers placed on top of physical QRs. Never download an app from a QR code (use the app store instead), be vigilant of suspicious emails prompting a QR, and avoid online QR payments. The FBI urges anyone affected by a QR crime to report the event with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Next: Who Is QAnon? AI Might Have Just Figured It Out

Source: FBI