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GETTY IMAGES Among the many changes brought by the pandemic are the widespread use of QR codes, graphical representations of digital data that can be printed and then
Among the many changes brought by the pandemic are the widespread use of QR codes, graphical representations of digital data that can be printed and then scanned with a smartphone or other device.
QR codes have a wide range of uses to help people avoid contact with objects and interact closely with others, including sharing restaurant menus, email list subscriptions, car and home sales information, and the ins and outs of medical and professional appointments. .
QR codes are close cousins ​​to barcodes on product packages, which cashiers operate via infrared scanners so that the cashier knows which products have been purchased.
Barcodes store information horizontally along an axis. QR codes store information on both the vertical and horizontal axis, allowing them to store much more data. This extra amount of data is what makes QR codes so versatile.
Reading Arabic numerals is easy for humans, but difficult for a computer.
Barcodes encode alphanumeric data as a series of black and white lines of varying widths.
In-store barcodes record a set of numbers that identify a product. Critically, the data stored in barcodes is unnecessary. Even if part of the barcode has been destroyed or hidden, it is still possible for a device to read the product ID.
QR codes are designed to be scanned by a camera like those on your smartphone. QR code scanning is built into many Android and iOS camera apps. QR codes are mostly used to store web links; however, they can store arbitrary data such as text or images.
When you scan a QR code, the QR reader on your phone’s camera decodes the code and the resulting information triggers an action on your phone. If the QR code has a URL, your phone will show you the URL. Tap it and it will open your phone’s default browser web page.
QR codes consist of several parts: data, placeholders, silent zone, and optional logos.
The data in a QR code is a series of dots on a square grid. In binary code, each dot represents one and each blank space represents a zero and encodes numbers, letters, or both, including patterns, URLs.
This grid is 21 rows by 21 columns in its smallest format, and 177 rows by 177 columns in its largest format.
In most cases, QR codes use black squares on a white background, making the dots easy to distinguish. However, this is not a strict requirement and can use any color or shape for QR codes, dots and background.
Placeholders are squares placed in the upper-left, upper-right, and lower-left corners of a QR code.
These beacons enable the camera of a smartphone or other device to aim by scanning the QR code.
QR codes are surrounded by a blank area, silent zone, to help the computer identify where the QR code starts and ends.
QR codes can include an optional logo in the middle.
Like barcodes, QR codes are designed with data redundancy. Data can be recovered even if 30% of the QR code is destroyed or difficult to read.
In fact, logos are not part of the QR code; It hides some of the QR code data. However, due to the redundancy of the QR code, the data represented by these missing dots can be recovered by looking at the remaining visible dots.
QR codes are not inherently dangerous. They are just a way of storing data. However, just as clicking links in emails can be dangerous, visiting URLs stored in QR codes can be dangerous in a number of ways.
The QR code URL may take you to a phishing website that tries to trick you into entering your username or password for another website. The URL could take you to a legitimate website and trick it into doing something harmful, like allowing an attacker to access your account.
While such an attack would require a flaw in the website you are visiting, such vulnerabilities are common on the internet. The URL may take you to a malicious website that tricks another website you are logged into on the same device into performing an unauthorized action.
A malicious URL can open an app on your device and cause that app to take some action. You may have seen this behavior when you clicked on a Zoom link and the Zoom app opened and automatically joined a meeting.
While this type of behavior is usually harmless, an attacker can trick some apps into exposing your data.
When you open a link in a QR code, it’s important to make sure the URL is secure and from a trusted source.
Just because the QR code has a logo you recognize doesn’t mean you have to click on the URL it contains.
The app used to scan the QR code is also unlikely to contain a security vulnerability that could allow malicious QR codes to hijack your device.
This attack will succeed by scanning the QR code even if you do not click on the link stored in it.
To avoid this threat, you should use trusted apps provided by the device manufacturer to scan QR codes and avoid downloading special QR code apps.
Source: El Nacional
Alice Smith is a seasoned journalist and writer for Div Bracket. She has a keen sense of what’s important and is always on top of the latest trends. Alice provides in-depth coverage of the most talked-about news stories, delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles that keep her readers informed and engaged.
