Guide to QR Code “Quishing”

As phishing attacks continue to proliferate, organisations must implement effective practices and awareness programs to combat these threats. Cyber criminals exploit cyber crime to steal sensitive data and extort funds, leveraging the internet’s speed and convenience to target individuals with minimal effort. Techniques like QR phishing exploit QR codes to manipulate targets and pilfer sensitive information. To safeguard against Quishing attacks, individuals should remain vigilant of unsolicited messages and unfamiliar links. Moreover, organisations should educate employees, conduct regular phishing simulations, and enforce robust security policies. Embracing these measures enables organisations to strengthen their defenses against phishing and cyber attacks.

QR code usage has become ubiquitous in today’s digital landscape, offering the convenience of accessing online content via a phone camera, from restaurant menus to flyers. However, like all technologies, QR codes have a dark side, with criminals exploiting them for malicious purposes.

QR code phishing, or “Quishing,” represents a novel phishing attack employed by criminals to bypass an organization’s security measures and pilfer sensitive information. In this threat, attackers utilize social engineering tactics to deceive target users through a malicious QR code linked to a phishing page. Scanning the QR code redirects users to a counterfeit site closely resembling a legitimate one. Upon entering their credentials, perpetrators seize this information for nefarious purposes, ranging from identifying threats to perpetrating financial scams or ransomware attacks.

While phishing is often perceived as a minor threat, neglecting it can escalate into more perilous attacks. Understanding Quishing in depth is paramount to addressing this evolving cyber threat landscape.

Quishing attacks function similarly to traditional attacks, but they utilize QR codes instead of text to deceive individuals. These attacks commonly involve emails or text messages containing malicious links that redirect recipients to phishing sites. Upon clicking the link, users are directed to a fraudulent website where they may unwittingly enter their sensitive information, which scammers promptly exploit.

However, Quishing attacks differ from conventional attacks in their method of execution. Unlike typical attacks, where malicious links are embedded in text, Quishing attacks employ QR codes as the vehicle for directing users to phishing sites.

Moreover, the origin of QR codes remains undetectable, making them ideal tools for scammers to distribute via email. Typically, cyber criminals initiate Quishing attacks by generating fake QR codes linked to phishing sites. These codes are then disseminated to potential victims via email or displayed in public settings for unsuspecting individuals to scan. Upon scanning the code, victims may unwittingly provide sensitive information such as bank details or inadvertently download malware, leading to further compromise of their devices.