News of the Cyber World

[kyonides]

QR codes can eat your lunch, FBI warns

The bureau’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), issued a general alert Tuesday about “malicious” QR codes that reroute unsuspecting consumers to the world of cybercrime.

“[C]ybercriminals are taking advantage of this technology by directing QR code scans to malicious sites to steal victim data, embedding malware to gain access to the victim’s device, and redirecting payment for cybercriminal use,” the announcement says.

The FBI’s warning is the latest in a long string of advisories from cybersecurity researchers or government agencies about the threat posed by QR codes. Last week, Ars Technica reported on fake QR codes that were stuck on parking meters in Texas cities, with the goal of intercepting payments.

In October 2021, scammers were spotted using them as part of a phishing campaign. Earlier last year, the U.S. Army issued a warning. Other alerts pointed to bitcoin scams, And at least one barcode scanner app became notorious for carrying malware itself.