QR code: convenient scanning, safe use guide

During the epidemic, in order to minimize contact with public goods and surfaces, the use of rapid response codes (QR codes) has surged.

Simply quickly scan these black and white square patterns with your phone to easily access various information, such as checking in or viewing restaurant menus.

How to work QR code While you may have heard of QR codes recently, this technology has actually been around since the 1990s. It is a technology that encodes information into forms recognizable by other software and hardware. Just like a store uses barcodes to identify product prices, you can scan the QR code to open a website, register in a doctor's office, log in to a service, get a Wi-Fi password, or install an app.

[Related: Easily share Wi-Fi password] The scanner can only read standard barcodes in one direction (top to bottom). But your phone can read the QR code in both directions (top to bottom, left to right). This means that the QR code can contain more information—almost any type of data, and up to about 4,000 text characters.

You may be surprised at the ease of reading QR codes on your phone. The three black squares in the corner of the graphics will tell you the location of your phone code before actually scanning. This means that angle is not usually an issue and you don't need to be precisely aligned or keep your hands completely stable.

This technique is very useful, but don't scan every QR code you encounter on the street. Criminals may use QR codes to engage in malicious activities, such as guiding you to a website designed to steal login information or install malware on your phone. As long as your device is running the latest software, it should be able to discover and block these malicious technologies. But be careful when scanning QR codes in public places, especially if you are not sure of its origin.

While the scammer is unlikely to replace all QR codes on your local restaurant menu, it is more likely that codes that are randomly pasted on the walls of public places are dangerous. Using common sense and caution, you should not encounter any security issues.

In terms of privacy, QR codes themselves cannot store data - they just display data. How much personal information you leak depends on the scanning application you are using. If it requires you to log in before or after reading the code, the application may store that data as a kind of browsing history. If you are unsure, be sure to check out the app's privacy policy.

How to use QR code

Using a QR code is simple: just aim your phone camera at the graphics, and your device will process the data the moment it recognizes the pattern.

Some applications use this technology for authentication, and you just need to follow the instructions. For example, WhatsApp requires you to scan the QR code on its web client to load your account in your browser with all contacts as well as conversation history.

If you encounter QR codes in real life, you can use your phone's camera app. On Android, open the camera application and point the QR code to the view frame. Once your device recognizes the pattern, you will see a link appear on the screen. Click the link to open it.

The process on iOS is very similar. Launch the camera app, point your phone camera at the QR code, and when you are aligned and focused, you will see a notification asking if you want to open the link embedded in the code.

[Related: How the "Vaccine Passport" app works in New York. ]

Most of the time, the phone's built-in camera app is enough, but there are also many QR code reader apps available. They provide additional features such as the ability to save logs of all codes you have scanned, and to process more types of barcodes.

If you want to be extra cautious, you can install a reader app from a trusted security company. For example, the Kaspersky QR Scanner app (for Android and iOS) is free. When it scans the QR code, the platform warns you whether you are about to access a URL that is known to exist or is associated with a phishing attempt.

Another option is the Trend Micro QR Scanner for Android, or the QR code scanner built in Trend Micro Mobile Security for iOS. Similarly, the platform marks potentially problematic links in the QR code so that you can avoid harmful websites. Both Android and iOS have similar security features built in, but third-party apps can give you an extra level of protection if you feel you need it.

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