Quote:
Originally Posted by Normal
Scanning a QR code doesn’t drain your cell phone data or permit someone to enter your phone data base. Theoretically it used to be just a means to get you directed to a website.
Caution though; websites can be set up to automatically download data to a device if you even enter the websites domain. It isn’t that much of a stretch to see someone figuring out how to bypass permissions on an android phone to upload from your phone while the Apple device would be much more difficult to do.
There was a scam going on with parking meters not long ago. In Austin, Texas thieves had manufactured their own code and made it into stickers. They then placed these fake scan code stickers covering valid stickers on city meters. When unsuspecting tourists scanned the falsified codes, they entered a fake site where they had to enter their license plate and visa info to pay for parking. Of course unaware, funds were sent to the thieves accounts and they had your visa data too.
I won’t scan codes anymore with my phone.
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Scanning a QR code directs your device to a website. When the device loads the site it will also load any malicious code hidden in the site. This malicious code could attempt to bypass security features of the device and steal anything it gets access to. This is the same as phishing emails with the site url delivered in the QR code rather than a link in the email.
While malicious code is possible, social engineering is more likely. Rather than write complicated code, a site could just convince you to type your information. Given that this package and code is posing as Amazon, it makes more sense that they would ask for your login and credit card info.
In any case, it is important to be careful to recognize these attempts to steal your info and don’t fall for them.