For years, phishing has been a favorite weapon for cybercriminals, usually arriving as emails with malicious links. But now, attackers have found a new, more effective way — QR codes.
A QR code, short for “Quick Response” code, can hold website links, contact details, or payment information. Criminals are hiding dangerous links inside QR codes and sending them via emails, social media messages, or printing them out on posters, flyers, and restaurant menus.
Because people trust QR codes and scan them casually in their daily lives, cybercriminals are using this to their advantage, launching a wave of what security experts call “quishing” attacks.
Why QR Code Phishing Is So Dangerous
Quishing is difficult to detect because QR codes are images, not text, meaning traditional email security filters often let them through without warning. Once a person scans a malicious QR code, they might be taken to a fake login page for popular services like Microsoft, Google, or banking apps, where entering details hands credentials directly to attackers.
In some cases, scanning these codes triggers silent malware downloads onto a phone or computer. Security researchers have reported incidents where executives and high-ranking employees were 5 to 40 times more likely to be targeted by these attacks, as cybercriminals aim for sensitive corporate data.
In one bizarre case, attackers even posted QR code stickers on parking meters, which redirected users to fraudulent payment pages.
How These Attacks Work
The typical quishing attack works in a few simple steps:
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A person receives an email asking them to urgently scan a QR code for things like verifying an account, collecting a package, or updating security details.
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Scanning the QR code opens a website that looks like a familiar login page.
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Victims enter their username and password, unknowingly sending it to hackers.
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In some cases, scanning the code can instantly download harmful apps or spyware onto the device.
Cybercriminals are also using real-world tactics by placing printed QR code stickers in public spaces, cafés, or office lobbies, tricking people into scanning them for fake Wi-Fi, menu links, or payment portals.
How to Protect Yourself
Security experts recommend a few simple but effective ways to stay safe:
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Always preview links before opening them when your phone gives the option after scanning a QR code.
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Avoid scanning QR codes from untrusted sources, especially from random emails or posters.
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Keep your phone’s security software updated and use browsers that warn against suspicious sites.
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Companies should also train employees about quishing threats and update security tools to detect malicious QR codes inside emails.
Cybersecurity firms are developing new AI-based scanners that can detect harmful QR codes before users scan them, but for now, personal awareness remains the first and strongest line of defense.