𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁: 𝗤𝗥 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲

QR codes have become universally popular, especially with the rise of UPI payments in India. However, this widespread adoption has also made them an attractive target for QR phishing or Quishing attacks.

QR phishing [Quishing] is a social engineering technique where attackers manipulate QR codes to trick users into performing unintended actions usually replacing legitimate QR codes with malicious ones, leading users to fake websites or initiating unwanted actions like unauthorized downloads.

Attackers often create counterfeit QR codes resembling those used by popular payment apps or merchants. The potential risks of QR phishing in the context of UPI payments are significant, including financial loss,compromised privacy and security.

𝗔𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗤𝗥 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀
𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗤𝗥 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀: Attackers create deceptive QR codes that redirect users to malicious websites or capture their personal information. These codes can be found on physical objects, embedded in phishing emails, or distributed through compromised websites.
𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀: Scanning manipulated QR codes leads users to fake websites designed to mimic legitimate ones. These sites prompt users to enter login credentials, financial information, or other sensitive data.
𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁: QR phishing attacks impersonate well-known brands, financial institutions, or popular websites. By imitating the appearance and functionality of legitimate sources, attackers deceive users into divulging confidential information.
𝗨𝗻𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: QR phishing can trigger unintended actions on a victim’s device, such as downloading malware that compromises device and network security.

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴:
𝗩𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Exercise caution when scanning QR codes from unfamiliar sources. Verify the code’s authenticity by cross-checking with official websites or contacting the associated organization directly.
𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝘀: Use reputable QR code scanning apps with built-in security features. These apps analyze and warn users about potentially malicious QR codes.
𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Organizations using QR codes should implement security measures like digital signatures or unique identifiers to authenticate codes.
𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Companies that utilize QR codes actively should raise awareness and educate users about the risks of QR phishing attacks. Regular outreach on identifying potential phishing attempts and identifying authentic QRs is vital for proactive defense of consumers.

By understanding these attacks and implementing effective countermeasures,users can protect themselves and mitigate the risks associated with this emerging threat.