Week 14 QR Codes

QR codes are everywhere.  They  are small square images, usually black and white,  which are crammed with data.  They can be found in various locations like product packaging, advertisements, restaurant menus, websites, business cards, and even on clothing.  Just looking at the QR code provides little help on its role, but using your phone or a special app you can find detailed information.  In this class, we will look at the beginnings of QR codes, a key to unlocking the mystery behind those little mystery boxes, some applications of QR codes and potential risks to using random QR codes.

QR codes were invented in 1994 by Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, in Japan. They were initially created to track automotive parts during manufacturing, but their utility quickly expanded beyond the automotive industry. The QR code technology was released with an open license, which helped accelerate its adoption worldwide.

QR codes can be found on many applications including:

• Retail and marketing: Linking to product information, promotions, or online stores

• Contactless payments: Mobile payment systems like Apple Pay, Google Pay

• Ticketing: Event tickets, public transportation

• Business cards: Quickly sharing contact information

• Restaurant menus: Accessing digital menus

• Inventory management: Tracking products through supply chains

• Authentication and security: Verifying identity or product authenticity

• Healthcare: Patient identification, medication information

• Tourism: Providing information about landmarks or exhibits

These versatile codes have become increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, especially surrounding Pandemic when we were avoiding contact.  They offer a bridge between physical objects and digital information.

Below are four examples of QR codes.  Look at them and see if you can identify some of the components from the above example.  Do not scan them yet, just look at them!  How many of the features above can you find in these QR codes?

In order to scan the QR code, you need a smartphone (Android or iPhone), your built-in camera app and an Internet connection. 

Scanning a QR code without using your camera app

If you do not have the capability to use your smartphone, there are other options:

• Dedicated QR code scanner apps:  Download these from your app store.  Some of these, such as QR Scanner for Micro Trend,  may have added security features that check URLs before opening them. 

• Social media apps:  Some of them allow QR scanning capacities.  For example, in Snapchat, you can use the camera and hold it over a QR code while pressing on the screen.

• Screenshot method (explained below).  Once you have the screenshot, you can view on a web-based QR reader like webqr.com.  This is also nice because you can clearly see the information before you click on anything.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Make sure your camera lens is clean

• Ensure there's enough light to see the QR code clearly

• Hold your phone steady while scanning

• If scanning doesn't work, check your camera settings to ensure QR code scanning is enabled

Safety Note

• Always check the URL that appears before tapping to open it

• Be cautious about scanning QR codes from unknown sources

Maybe you are using a link to a QR code that someone has sent you.  Of course, before doing this, review the safety tips below.  (QR codes can be created by anyone, and you don’t know where the link is taking us.)

You first need to take a screenshot of the QR code.  Depending on your device, this may be one of two methods:  

• Press the Home and Power button at the same time

• Press the Power and Volume Up button at the same time

 After taking the screenshot, you will save it in your photos folder, then open it to find the destination.  The directions are a little different for iPhone and Android:

Steps  while using iPhone::

• Take a screenshot (side button and volume up)

• Save in your photo’s app

•  Open photo in your photos app. 

• Tap and hold down until you see “Open in…” depending on your default browser

• You will be sent to the destination of the QR code

With Android, the instructions are similar, but you will be using Google photos 

• Take a screenshot (side button and volume up)

• Save in Google Photos

• You can open that in the notification window.  If you miss this, go to Google photos and tap on the image.

•  Select “lens” from the bottom of the screen

• Choose one of the options (website, copy URL, share, etc.)

For our class, find one method that will work for you (smartphone app, smartphone camera).

Depending on what you want the QR code to point to, there are different methods to help. In general, you would use a browser to create a QR code to an URL, and a third party app to create other QR codes (like Wi-Fi, name card, link to YouTube, etc.)

Method:  From a browser:

Chrome: 

• Find the webpage that you want to create a QR code for.

• Click on the 3 dots in the upper right of the screen

• Scroll to Save and Share

• Select “Create QR code”

• Copy the code and paste it into a document of where you would like to save it.

• Or, you can download it, save it and share.

Brave: Directly from address bar

• Click on the box with the arrow (address bar)

• Select “create QR code”

Safari: 

You cannot create a QR code in Safari, but you can create one using a third-party QR code generator like QRCode Monkey (instructions below)

Create with 3rd party app:

If you want to create a QR code for different things (contact information, directions, invitation, Wi-Fi password) or if your browser is not creating QR codes for you, you can create a QR code using a 3rd party website like QR Code Monkey (https://www.qrcode-monkey.com/)

1. Go to site

2. Select  type of QR code (such as URL, contact information, a link to a website)

3. Enter the URL or other data you want the QR code to contain

4. Click “Generate QR code”

5. Customize as needed

6. Click download to save to your device

While they were very popular during the time of Pandemic for saving menus, there have become problems with illicit QR codes.  When using them, you need to be sure that they are legitimate.  Note that there are videos below which highlight how hackers can change them and a public news story on fake QR codes.

How to identify potentially unsafe QR codes:

Unfortunately, there's no foolproof way to visually determine if a QR code is malicious just by looking at it, but here are some safety practices:

 Physical Inspection

• Look for tampering - If a QR code looks like it has a sticker placed over the original, it might be compromised

• Check for official placement - QR codes in unexpected places (like randomly stuck on walls) are more suspicious than those on official materials

• Quality and presentation - Legitimate businesses typically display QR codes professionally with clear instructions

Before Tapping the Notification

• Preview the URL - Check if the web address matches what you expect (e.g., a restaurant's actual website)

• Watch for misspellings - Fraudulent URLs often use similar but slightly misspelled domain names

• Be wary of shortened URLs - These hide the actual destination (like bit.ly or tinyurl links)

• Check for secure connections - Look for "https://" rather than "http://" in the URL

General Safety Practices

• Don't scan codes from untrusted sources - Be especially cautious with codes in public places or unsolicited emails

• Use QR scanning apps with security features - Some dedicated QR scanner apps check URLs against known malicious sites

• Never enter personal information or passwords after scanning unless you're certain the site is legitimate

• Trust your instincts - If something seems off about where the QR code is taking you, close the page immediately

For more information on how QR codes can be used for harm, review this website.