QR codes have become more prominent in recent years, as they transition from their initial use in tracking vehicle parts during manufacturing to massively widespread popularity in the smartphone era. Their applications range from advertising and marketing campaigns to facilitating contactless payments and effortless website access. Notably, QR codes have even replaced traditional printed menus in many restaurants, reflecting their pervasive influence in modern society.
However, as with everything that makes things convenient, there are those out there who look to use it for malicious acts. In relation to QR codes, the act is referred to as quishing, which saw a 427% increase from August to September alone, according to Perception Point. There’s also QR code login jacking, or QRLJacking. QRLJacking is a social engineering method that exploits the "login with QR code" feature available on many legitimate apps and websites and is leveraged by bad actors to gain full control of victims' accounts.
Looking to cut down on the number of attacks through QR codes, SlashNext released its QR Code Phishing Protection to stop Quishing, QRLJacking and other scams distributed via malicious QR codes.
SlashNext's QR Code Phishing Protection provides comprehensive quishing protection across various channels, including email, mobile, web and messaging platforms such as Slack, iMessage and Microsoft (News - Alert) Teams.
Distinguishing itself from other security solutions addressing quishing and QR code login jacking, SlashNext's solution incorporates a patent-pending computer vision and a novel QR code natural language processing classifier. This approach not only safeguards users from credential Quishing but also extends its protection by detecting malicious intent within both the QR code and its accompanying message.
"In recent months, Quishing and QRLJacking have contributed to the huge growth we have observed in phishing," said Patrick Harr, CEO, SlashNext. "As a security company focused on phishing protection, we dedicate resources to continuously observe attack patterns, technology innovations leveraged by cybercriminals, and overall trends in the security landscape in order to anticipate and proactively address emerging threats. We extend this critical protection to all existing and new customers."
SlashNext's solution is essentially a comprehensive shield against QR code-related threats. Its unique approach not only addresses credential Quishing but also considers the broader context of the QR code and its associated message, providing users with protection across diverse communication channels.
Edited by
Alex Passett
