1. What is a QR Code?
Like traditional barcodes, a QR code (Quick Response Code) is an encoded image containing digital information. Its main purpose is to act as a bridge: by scanning it, the user is instantly redirected to a website or prompted to download an application.
QR codes have become widespread in recent years because of their undeniable convenience: they allow users to avoid manually typing long URLs on mobile devices.
2. Quishing: The Threat Behind the Black Square
Quishing is a variant of phishing that uses these QR codes to trap users. It gained significant attention in 2023 and comes in two main forms:
– Online distribution (Email, SMS): The attacker sends the QR code via a message. Although this can be sent massively, the success rate is lower because it often requires a second device to scan the code from the first device.
– Physical distribution (The real danger): This is where cybercriminals are most effective. They stick fake codes on parking meters, electric vehicle charging stations, or leave fraudulent traffic tickets on car windshields.
Did you know? Email security filters can easily detect suspicious text-based links, but they struggle to analyze malicious content hidden within a QR code image.
3. Real-Life Example: The Parking Meter Trap
Imagine a cybercriminal placing a fraudulent sticker on a public parking meter.
The driver, thinking they are using a new quick mobile payment option, scans the QR code. They are then redirected to a mirror site that perfectly imitates the official parking service website. Trusting the site, the victim enters their personal and banking information. The attacker collects these details in real-time and can empty the victim’s account, often without the victim realizing it immediately.
4. Real Cases
Quishing is not theoretical; it’s already causing damage:
– United Kingdom: According to The Guardian, fraudsters targeted public parking areas by covering official codes with malicious QR codes, diverting thousands of payments.
– France: Authorities (Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr) regularly warn about campaigns involving fake traffic tickets placed on vehicles in several major cities.
5. How to Protect Yourself
To avoid becoming a victim, follow these simple precautions:
– Check the surface: If the QR code appears to be a sticker placed on an official terminal or sign, be suspicious.
– Verify the URL: Before granting access to a site on your smartphone, check the web address carefully. Does it match the service you are trying to use?
– Use official apps: For parking or charging stations, access the service through the official app downloaded from the App Store or Play Store instead of scanning an external QR code.
6. table
| Feature | Classic Phishing | Quishing (QR Phishing) |
| Attack Vector | Hyperlink (Clickable URL) in email/SMS. | QR Code (Image) printed or embedded. |
| Antivirus Detection | High: Filters analyze text and links. | Low: Scanners struggle to “read” images. |
| Primary Device | Mostly Desktop/Laptop. | Shifts to Smartphone (outside security perimeter). |
| Trust Context | Purely digital (fake bank site). | Often Physical (meters, restaurants, signs). |
| Action Required | One click. | Physical scan + URL validation. |
| Defense | Link analysis, anti-spam filters. | XDR, user awareness, final URL check. |
Sources & References
(Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr National alerts)
(The Guardian Investigations on parking fraud)