Read more of the latest news on coronavirus scams and phishing attacks The tech is also used to both sign in and post in the WeChat messaging app and Alipay systems, meaning millions of citizens use QR codes every day. QR codes have enjoyed a huge upsurge in adoption across China, where they are scanned to collect wedding gifts at a gift registry, to identify pets, reply to job adverts, and much more. This is partly due to Apple’s iOS 11 update back in 2017, which started allowing users to quickly and conveniently scan a QR code using the camera app. You’ll likely be familiar with their design: a series of black lines and squares on a white background.Īlthough QR codes were invented almost three decades ago, it’s only in the past five years or so that they have been adopted by the western world at scale. The technology, created in 1994 by Masahiro Hara from the Japanese company Denso Wave, was originally designed to track motor vehicle components through the manufacturing process. Quick Response (QR) codes are two-dimensional barcodes used to enable users to access data or web-based resources (URLs). The Daily Swig takes a closer look at the potential security issues surrounding QR codes and the best approaches to using the technology safely.

QR codes have a variety of uses, from storing bank information for payments to ordering at restaurants or joining a WiFi network.īut the easy-to-use codes don’t come without security risks – a concern highlighted by numerous incidents in recent years. How to ensure your next scan doesn’t lead to a scam

Qr code reader for wifi password