Not All QR Codes Are Wise to Scan QR codes can encode a lot | Hacker Desire
Not All QR Codes Are Wise to Scan
QR codes can encode a lot of information, and as we've learned today, they can even be formatted to cause a device to perform actions like connecting to a Wi-Fi network. That makes scanning a QR code risky, as a person has no way of reading the information before exposing your device to whatever payload is contained inside. If you scan a QR code that seems suspicious, pay attention to what the code is attempting to launch, and do not connect to a Wi-Fi network or navigate to a link that's shortened. While most QR codes should be safe to scan on a smartphone, scanning payloads we generated today on a device for scanning tickets or boarding passes may result in some bizarre behavior from the device. Do not scan payloads on a scanner you need working immediately after for an event or work — or any scanner you do not have permission to test — as some of these payloads may cause the scanner to stop working.
