Increasing cyber threats through QR codes
Nowadays, we all are living in the technological era and taking advantage of all kinds of facilities. Scanning QR codes has now become a part of our daily routine, be it small or big transactions. But along with this facility, cases of fraud are also increasing. The recent incident that happened with a woman in Pune has raised serious questions about the security of QR codes.
incident with woman
The woman scanned a QR code to view a digital menu at a restaurant, but after a few hours she started receiving obscene messages on her phone. It was revealed that this message was being sent by the waiter of that restaurant.
incident details
A woman named Rishika Dutta had gone to a restaurant located on FC Road, Pune. There, they were asked to view a digital menu by scanning a QR code. At night, obscene messages started coming on his phone from an unknown number. The woman alleged that her mobile number was leaked from the restaurant’s digital menu system.
Reason for leaking numbers from QR code
According to cyber experts, when users scan QR codes, they often enter their mobile number without thinking. When the website opens, a menu or order number is requested, and this data is saved in the restaurant’s system. If the system is not secured or employees gain access, customer information may be leaked.
Danger of fake QR codes
Experts said that many times cyber criminals paste fake codes on top of the real QR codes. When users scan it, they are redirected to a fake website, which can lead to their information being stolen and banking details also being compromised. Apart from this, malware can also be installed in the phone.
Precautions while scanning QR code
Keep the following things in mind while doing online transactions:
– Ask for paper menu: As much as possible, ask for paper menus in restaurants and do not give your number to anyone.
– Check permission: If after scanning the QR a website asks for permission to your camera, contacts or location, reject it immediately.
– Check URL: Check the validity of the link in the browser while scanning. Do not share your information on suspicious links.
Comments are closed.