From Restaurant Menus to Your Bank Account: QR Code Fraud "Quishing" is Spreading

QR codes, which make our lives easier, are turning into new weapons in the hands of cybercriminals. In recent months, fake stickers pasted over physical QR codes have been detected worldwide, especially in public areas such as cafes, restaurants, and parking lots. With this method, called "Quishing" (QR Phishing), scammers redirect users to fake websites designed to steal personal and financial information instead of a legitimate menu or payment page.

The attack aims to infect the phone of the user scanning the QR code with spyware or to capture bank passwords via a fake login screen. Because traditional security scanners cannot check physical stickers, this method is considered among the "hardest-to-detect digital traps." Experts recommend strictly checking the address (URL) of the website the scanned QR code redirects to and paying attention to whether there has been any tampering with the physical code.

Some of the precautions we need to take to protect against these types of attacks include:

• Do not open emails from untrusted sources.

• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA).

• Keep your system updated to the latest version at all times.

• Monitor login logs regularly.

• Track the security of mobile devices.

  
  

For detailed information, you can reach out to our experts at info@zerosecond.com.ae