Don’t just scan random QR codes
Do not do it! Do not scan random QR codes anywhere at any time, as this could have disastrous consequences.
QR codes are increasingly becoming a part of our lives. If only because of the corona ticket. Anyway, we will soon be rid of that, QR codes against it. Last weekend the Super Bowl was in America and there was a QR ad from Coinbase.
Random QR Codes
Coinbase (cryptocurrency trading platform) company had bought a 60-second ad for a very large sum. The ad had a QR code bouncing around in a way reminiscent of old DVD screensavers. And the ad was a huge success.
The company says it had a good 20 million hits in one minute on its special offer to sign up and get $15 worth of Bitcoins for free. It shows how easily people simply scan a QR code. Okay, this code may not be really random, but it does say something. “It is remarkable how many facets of the cryptocurrency world mimic social engineering scams,” wrote Max Eddy for PC Mag. In other words, Coinbase normalizes a potential vulnerability. By posting this ad, people get the impression that scanning a contextless QR code is fine.
Look after!
Due to the pandemic, a huge number of QR codes have been added. People have started to think about it more easily. But as with all electronic interactions, beware of scammers. And in this case for fraudulent links.
In these situations, a fraudulent QR code is similar to a phishing email. We don’t click on an unreliable link that quickly, but a QR code does. So always think carefully before scanning. So check if it is a legitimate link. You can do that by going to Google and searching for the website you want to visit. Find the security certificate there.
