Priya Patel
TLDR:
Key Points:
- QR code phishing attacks have evolved rapidly in the past years, now utilizing HTML and ASCII characters to create fake QR codes.
- The pandemic has led to increased use of QR codes, with 70.6 million smartphone users in 2020 and a projected 100.2 million in 2025.
Article Summary:
QR codes have become widely popular, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, for contactless interactions in various establishments. However, hackers have taken advantage of this trend by evolving QR code phishing attacks, now using HTML and ASCII characters to create fake QR codes that can bypass OCR engines.
These fake QR codes are often used in emails that appear to be from legitimate companies, tricking users into scanning them and unwittingly providing sensitive information. Check Point researchers have identified over 600 emails containing these fake QR codes since late May, highlighting the growing use of this tactic by threat actors.
The use of QR codes has skyrocketed in recent years, with 94.1 million smartphone users scanning QR codes in 2023. This number is expected to increase to 100.2 million by 2025, indicating a growing target for cyber attacks. To combat these evolving QR code scams, security professionals are advised to implement tools to automatically decode QR codes, analyze URLs, and utilize AI to detect phishing attempts.
The rapid evolution of QR code phishing attacks reflects the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between hackers and cybersecurity defenders. Hackers continuously adapt their tactics to exploit vulnerabilities, prompting the need for proactive cybersecurity measures to protect against emerging threats in the digital landscape.
