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đź’» Key takeaways:
1. QR Codes are safe to use. However, follow scanning practices such as checking the domain name, refusing third-party QR Code scanners, checking the QR Code source, and updating your phone to the latest OS to avoid getting scammed.
2. Features to check for in a safe QR Code generator are SSO login option, GDPR compliance, password protection, age-gated content, and authorized user access.
With the rise in QR Code usage, QR Code security has become a highly debated topic.
Are QR Codes safe? Can someone hack QR Codes? Does using a customized QR Code help?
If you’re interested in advanced security features for your campaign, talk to one of our experts.
With technology, the #1 concern for businesses and consumers is safety. And rightly so.
I’m going to explain everything you need to know about QR Code security and bust some popular myths.
What to expect from this blog post –
- How to scan a QR Code safely?
- What to look for in a safe QR Code generator?
- What makes Uniqode’s QR Codes safe?
Are QR Codes safe to use?
In short, yes. QR Codes are safe.
The naked eye cannot comprehend a QR Code. Invariably, they look the same unless there’s some customization added to the QR Code.
With that said, here are some safe QR Code scanning practices that you can adopt.
Safe QR Code scanning practices: Quick guide for user safety
- Check the Domain name
When scanning the QR Code, a notification describing the content of the URL pops up. Check to see if the domain name is familiar to you. Some brands use their own domain while others rely on QR Code solutions. So if you see the brand’s domain like qr.nike.com or a secure domain like qrcodes.pro or qr.tapnscan.me, it’s okay to go ahead and scan the QR Code. - Stay away from 3rd party QR Code scanners
Be wary of third-party QR Code scanner apps. Most of the latest smartphones can natively scan QR Codes. If you have an older smartphone model, check out some of the top rated QR Code scanner apps that you can download. - Check the source of the QR Code
If you see a lone QR Code placed randomly on walls or in a public place, it’s best to avoid scanning this. QR Codes placed on product packaging or a business’s print marketing material or website are generally more reliable. - Update to the latest OS
Always update the smartphone operating system to the latest one. Updating operating systems to the latest version ensures patching of security vulnerabilities and adding new features, ensuring continued reliability and security.
If you are using a QR Code to make payments, make sure when you land on the website, you verify there is a padlock icon that indicates the site is secure. You can also click on the padlock icon to see more details about the site’s HTTPS certificate.
Note: This means that the information that you share is encrypted between you and the website so that unauthorized third parties cannot access sensitive information.
If you are using QR Codes to send donations, the legitimacy of the website or campaign cannot be determined by the site’s security so you must do your due diligence.
Is a QR Code generator safe?
If the platform you use provides the right features for QR Code security, QR Code generators are safe.
Besides the features, it’s always best to trust a platform with a good reputation among brands rather than a new software that claims they have the best security standards with no proof for the same.
How to choose a safest QR Code generator for businesses
There are certain security features that can enhance the security of your QR Codes and factors that make for a safe QR Code Generator.
Here’s what you should look for to determine if the QR Code Generator is safe –
#1 Ability to customize the domain
Increased link trust and familiarity, branded URLs are proven to increase click-through rates by 34%.
QR Code campaigns with custom domains and URL slugs can help customers identify the campaign and refrain from taking action when directed to a website.
You should look out for a QR Code Generator that offers a secure domain or the ability to use your domain. For instance, if your business doesn’t have a website, check to see if the domain offered by the QR Code Generator solution is secure.
If you do have a website, then you can map your domain to the solution. For instance, if your business’s website is mcmickey.com then you map it to qr.mcmickey.com
The same goes for the URL slug. You can customize this to let users know what type of campaign you’re running. For instance, if you are running a scavenger hunt, the URL can look like this:
qr.mcmickey.com/scavenger-hunt
#2 Option to log in with SSO (Single Sign-On)
Businesses, especially enterprises, need an end-to-end safety feature when creating and editing QR Codes for their campaigns as they deal with high volumes of transactions that cannot be dispersed to everyone.
Typically, most users use the same password for multiple accounts, exposing themselves to hackers. 59% of users use the same password, and when an intruder gets through, they are likely to access other systems as well.
With SSO, enterprises and companies can restrict unauthorized logins by setting permissions to a few trusted employees. This promotes an added layer of security as it wards off unknown users from logging in.
Once an employee is no longer associated with a company, they can not access the software, since their credentials are deactivated and removed from the cloud.
#3 Is the QR Code platform GDPR compliant?
General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, has reformed how businesses process and handle data.
Businesses compliant with GDPR are bound to protect their customers’ information from any outsider, including unauthorized third-party websites.
For enterprises, especially, the information they share in the QR Code generator solution is exclusive and sensitive. A secure QR Code generator should adhere to established QR Code standards (e.g., GDPR, ISO/IEC 18004) to ensure compatibility and interoperability with other QR Code scanning applications and devices.
It must offer solutions in adherence to enterprise-level features, including encrypted data, restricting access to personal data, ensuring systems and services are confidential.
In light of the recent security breaches, this law can help businesses protect their information. GDPR also prevents companies from selling data to unauthorized third-party companies and how they can control their data from being misused.
Although companies use click-behavior of their users for better-targeted adverts, for many, this practice has been intrusive and ripe for abuse. This makes enterprises that handle massive data doubtful to invest in a QR Code generator that is not GDPR compliant.
Regular QR Code generators, both online and app-based, that are not GDPR compliant cannot assure their users how their data is being used or distributed.
Although the protection law comes from the EU, it can also apply to businesses outside the region.
Ergo, QR Code generators that are compliant with law regulations typically offer safe QR Code practices.
#4 Can you create password-protected QR Codes?
Having password-protected QR Codes, especially for payment, bank statements, and other essential documents, is paramount.
A QR Code generator with password protection increases security for sensitive information.
For instance, let’s say a QR Code is embedded in a user’s bank statement for approving a loan sanction. When the QR Code is not protected, the documents can be easily accessible, exposing critical information to anyone.
With password-protected QR Codes, this can be prevented.
To create password-protected QR Codes, you can add a strong password to the QR Codes and share it only with the relevant people.
#5 Can you restrict content based on age?
According to a Pew Research Center report, almost 93% of teens aged between 12-17 have access to the internet.
With such vast numbers of teens going online, businesses must have safeguards to prevent children from accessing content or service that contains age-inappropriate content by setting up an age verification process on their pages.
Several restaurants, bars and consumer goods companies sell alcoholic beverages and tobacco. In addition, several countries restrict data collection allowance from underage users, including social media services.
By enforcing age verification set up on the PDF or web store, businesses can prevent underage children from purchasing the service online.
To set up age verification, when customizing a secure QR Code, you can set an age limit. When a user scans the QR Code, they are asked for their date of birth to access the content.
#6 Does the QR Code generator provide authorized user access?
When creating a dynamic QR Code for any use case, it is mandatory to log in to the dynamic QR Code generator’s dashboard. This makes it impossible for anyone without user access to the dashboard to duplicate and hack into the QR Code information.
A safe QR Code generator with access control uses authentication to verify its customers’ identity when a user tries to access a resource. In addition to these measures, implementing strong identity verification processes is essential to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive information, further enhancing the security of QR Code transactions.
For users with accounts or those generating sensitive QR Codes, the QR Code generator should offer robust authentication mechanisms such as two-factor authentication (2FA) to prevent unauthorized access.
Some secure QR Code solutions can also provide varying levels of access to the platform. For instance, if you don’t wish for a team to be able to edit the QR Codes but only view the campaign metrics, you can do so.
When a hacker tries to redirect the QR Code source, the access control denies permission, thus alerting the user of the breach.
Therefore, even if someone does duplicate the QR Code, they cannot redirect it to a different webpage since it is not editable but instead points it to the original website making it much safer.
Why Uniqode is the safest QR Code generator?
| FEATURES | UNIQODE | OTHERS |
| Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Authorized User Access | ✅ | ❌ |
| Password protection | ✅ | ❌ |
| Age-gated content | ✅ | ❌ |
| SOC 2® Type 1 certified | ✅ | ❌ |
Popular brands such as Revlon, Emirates, and Nestle have leveraged Uniqode’s safe QR Code generator solution to scale their marketing efforts, promote user safety, and disburse end-to-end encrypted campaigns to their users and witnessed high success rates.
Uniqode’s robust QR Code solution offers elevated enterprise-class security standards and frameworks for enterprises and individuals to deliver unlimited secure, dynamic, and seamless campaigns making it a secure, reliable, and safe QR Code generator.
Uniqode is the first and only platform in the world to be SOC 2® Type 1 certified. This ensures that our customers’ data is protected from vulnerabilities and regular audits will be conducted to test the durability of our enterprise-grade security measures.
Uniqode offers an affordable QR Code solution starting at just $5/month and a 14-day free trial to experience our premium features first-hand.
If you have concerns or questions about QR Code security, please drop a comment and I will address them.
FAQs about QR Code security
How do I make my QR Code secure?
To make your QR Codes secure, you need to leverage a safest QR Code generator with in-built features such as custom domain, Single Sign-On, user management, password-protection, and so on.
Are QR Codes secure?
QR Codes created on suspicious websites can pose the risk of phishing attacks. To avoid this, we recommend utilizing a trusted, safe QR Code generator like Uniqode.
Can you get scammed with a QR Code?
Sometimes, scanning a suspicious QR Code can lead to a scammy website or download malware on your phone. To prevent this from happening, install the best antivirus software on your smartphone and make sure you trust the URL before clicking on it.
