What are QR codes?
QR codes, short for Quick Response codes, are two-dimensional barcodes that can be scanned by a smartphone camera. They were initially created in 1994 by a Japanese auto parts company called Denso Wave to track vehicle parts. However, QR codes have become widely used worldwide in the last decade due to the rapid spread of smartphone ownership.
When you scan a QR code with your phone’s camera, it will typically direct you to a website URL, trigger an action like opening an app or dialing a phone number, or display text or images. QR codes are commonly placed on retail products, advertisements, business cards, receipts, and food menus. They provide a convenient way for businesses to link the physical and digital worlds.
What information is encoded in a QR code?
The information encoded in a QR code depends on the purpose it was created for. Here are some of the typical types of data that can be encoded:
– Website URL – Directs you to open a specific website when scanned. This is one of the most common uses of QR codes today.
– Contact information – Can encode a phone number, email address, social media profile, address, or other contact info. Often used on business cards and advertisements.
– SMS/Text message – Pre-fills a new text message window with a specific number or message text when scanned. Useful for marketing calls to action.
– WiFi login – Can automatically connect you to a specific WiFi network by entering the SSID and password. Helpful in public places like cafes and hotels.
– Calendar event – Creates a new calendar event when scanned. Used on invitations and flyers for events.
– Geo-location – Opens a mapping app like Google Maps and shows a specific location. Helpful on flyers, advertisements, or signage to show directions.
– Coupon/Offer code – Stores a coupon code that can be automatically applied at checkout on ecommerce sites. Used for digital loyalty cards and targeted promotions.
– App download – Opens the app store and takes you directly to the page to download a specific app when scanned. Used in app marketing campaigns.
– Payment information – Some payment apps encode payment details like account or wallet IDs into QR codes to accept payments by scan.
Can QR codes compromise your privacy?
QR codes themselves do not necessarily compromise your privacy – it depends on the content that is encoded in the code and your smartphone settings. Here are some potential privacy risks to be aware of with QR codes:
– **Link to malicious site** – If you scan a QR code that directs to a malicious website, this could compromise your privacy or infect your phone with malware. It’s important to only scan QR codes from trusted sources.
– **Unintended app downloads** – QR codes that initiate downloading an app could potentially download unwanted or malicious apps. You should verify the app before installation.
– **Spam texts/calls** – QR codes that pre-fill your messaging app or dial a number may spam you with unwanted communications.
– **Location tracking** – Codes that open a location in a map app can reveal your location and movements to the QR code creator.
– **Automatically joining WiFi networks** – A QR code that provides WiFi access may connect you to an unsecured network with risks of data interception.
– **Phishing for login details** – Malicious QR codes could send you to fake login pages to harvest your usernames and passwords.
– **Coupon code tracking** – QR code coupons allow businesses to link your activity directly back to your account when redeemed.
So in summary, the actual QR codes themselves do not reveal personal information about you. But by scanning a code, you may unknowingly send your data to a third-party site or app that could misuse your privacy in some way.
Best practices to scan QR codes safely
Here are some tips to follow to avoid privacy risks when scanning QR codes:
– Only scan QR codes shared from trusted sources, whether individuals, brands, or businesses you already engage with. Avoid scanning random codes you find posted publicly.
– Before scanning, visually inspect the QR code. Some malicious ones are created to resemble valid codes but with slight pixel modifications.
– Check the URL preview in your camera app before opening a web link, verifying it’s the expected domain. Most apps don’t obfuscate the destination URL.
– Avoid blindly allowing QR codes to open apps or initiate downloads without verifying the app first. Check reviews and research the publisher.
– Be cautious of QR codes that pre-fill messages or dial phone numbers. Verify the recipient first before sending any communication.
– Don’t connect to public WiFi networks without encryption through blind QR code scans. This leaves you open to snooping.
– Open map links in a browser instead of your map app to prevent revealing your location. Or deny the map app location permission if possible.
– Log into websites by manually typing the URL instead of scanning a code, which could send you to fake phishing pages.
– Consider disabling automatic QR code scanning in your camera app if you rarely use the feature. This prevents accidental scans.
– Use a QR code reader that provides scanning history and lets you delete past scans. Some apps reveal more info than just the raw QR code data.
Are QR codes GDPR compliant?
The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) puts strict regulations on companies collecting and processing EU citizens’ personal data. This has raised questions around whether QR codes that link to websites or apps comply with GDPR.
Some key considerations regarding GDPR compliance for QR codes:
– **Personal data** – QR codes themselves do not contain personal identifiable information. However, the website or app they link to may process user data that is protected under GDPR.
– **Consent** – Under GDPR, users must give informed, explicit consent before their data is collected and processed. This would apply to any data gathering upon scanning a QR code and visiting the associated site/app. Users should be clearly informed of this upon scanning.
– **Right to access** – Users have the right to know what personal data a company holds about them and how it is used. The party behind a QR code must make this available upon request if they process user data.
– **Right to be forgotten** – Users can request their personal data be deleted. The QR code data processor must comply unless there is a legitimate interest to keep the data.
– **Data minimization** – GDPR requires companies only collect and retain the minimum amount of user data needed for processing. QR code destinations should only gather essential user data.
– **Data security** – Companies must take appropriate security measures to protect collected user data. This applies to any personal data linked from QR codes.
So in summary, while QR codes themselves do not transfer personal data, companies should take care to ensure the associated site or app scanning takes users to complies with all aspects of GDPR for lawful data handling and protection.
Examples of QR code privacy concerns
Here are some real-world examples where QR code use has raised privacy concerns:
– **Malicious WiFi networks** – In 2017, cybercriminals distributed over 300 QR codes in Austin, Texas that automatically connected phones to malicious WiFi hotspots designed to steal data.
– **Phishing attacks** – Fraudsters created fake QR codes posing as legitimate cryptocurrency wallet sites to steal users’ account details and funds when scanned. These phishing attacks have stolen millions.
– **Spyware apps** – Some rogue QR code reader apps have been found to secretly download spyware to phones after being used to scan a rigged code. The malware then tracks user activity in the background.
– **Tracking retail shoppers** – Retailers have admitted to tracking in-store shopper behavior using QR codes to monitor which displays they engage with. This data gets linked back to their ecommerce accounts.
– **Targeted political ads** – Political campaigns have explored using QR codes on lawn signs that quickly collect voter data like emails and home addresses when scanned by passerbys.
– **COVID-19 tracking** – During the pandemic, restaurants implemented QR code menus that required diners to enter private details like name and number. This data was forwarded to health authorities, raising consent issues.
Should companies adopt a QR code privacy policy?
To address privacy concerns around QR codes and comply with regulations like GDPR, it is recommended for any company deploying public QR codes to implement a QR code privacy policy. This policy should outline:
– Exactly what type of data is collected when users scan the code, including personal data.
– Details on how the collected data will be processed and protected.
– The legal basis and user consent justifying the data collection and usage.
– How users can access, update, or delete their personal data per GDPR rights of access and erasure.
– Contact information for the privacy officer responsible for managing data collection.
– How long personal data is retained before being deleted.
– What third parties (if any) receive access to collected data from scans.
– Information about the specific privacy and security safeguards in place for user data flows from QR code scans.
Making this detailed policy clearly available before QR code scans gives users necessary transparency into the associated risks and data usage. Businesses should also provide opt-out consent options for data sharing wherever possible to respect user privacy choices. Adopting these best practices can help mitigate potential QR code privacy pitfalls.
Conclusion
QR codes can provide convenient shortcuts to digitally connecting with brands, products, locations, and more. However, there are potential privacy risks in how the data encoded in the codes is handled and secured. Companies using QR codes should make efforts to inform users during scanning and enable clear consent choices for any data collection. Following cybersecurity best practices around QR code generation, management, and analytics is also important to avoid the abuse of user data. Educating yourself on safe QR scanning and controlling your smartphone permissions can help users minimize privacy issues from QR code use.