Are you prepared for the latest phishing technique that’s set to explode in 2025? Enter Quishing – the art of QR code phishing that’s leaving traditional security measures in the dust. But what is quishing, and why should you be concerned about this emerging cyber security threat?
The QR Code: a double-edged sword
Remember when QR codes were just a quirky marketing gimmick? Those days are long gone. These pixelated squares are everywhere, from restaurant menus to parking meters. But with great convenience comes great vulnerability. To understand the risks, it’s essential to know the QR code meaning and what a QR code is used for.
Quick Response (QR) codes are two-dimensional barcodes that can store various types of information, from simple text to website URLs. They’re designed for rapid scanning and data retrieval. However, this ease of use has also made them a target for cybercriminals.
QR code redemptions are projected to hit a staggering 5.3 billion in 2025. That's 5.3 billion opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit. Share on XQuishing: the anatomy of a QR Code Phishing attack
Imagine this: It’s a busy Monday morning. Your CFO receives an urgent email about a pending invoice, complete with a QR code for “quick access” to the payment portal. Without a second thought, they perform QR scanning on their smartphone. In that split second, your company’s financial data is compromised.
This is quishing in action. But how does it work? Let’s break down the anatomy of QR code scams:
- The bait – Phishing email: The victim receives an email containing a QR code, often accompanied by social engineering tactics like urgency, authority, or emotional appeals to encourage scanning.
- The hook – Scanning the code: The victim scans the code using a smartphone or QR code reader, redirecting their browser to a malicious website.
- The sinker – Exploitation: On the malicious site, the victim may be prompted to enter sensitive information such as login credentials or financial details. Alternatively, malware may be downloaded to their device, granting attackers access to internal systems or enabling lateral network movement.
Why quishing is keeping security experts up at night
The numbers are alarming. According to a recent report by Egress, 12% of all phishing attacks from January to August 2024 included QR codes. That’s a mind-boggling 1400% increase since 2021!
But why are cybercriminals so enamoured with this technique? To understand this, we need to delve into the phishing scams meaning and how quishing attacks differ from traditional methods:
- Bypass central: QR codes sidestep traditional email security measures and link filters.
- Trust factor: People inherently trust QR codes, viewing them as a secure technology.
- Mobile mayhem: Personal devices often lack robust security controls, making them perfect targets for identity theft and financial fraud.
The evolving arsenal of quishing attacks
Just when you think you’ve got a handle on QR phishing, cybercriminals up the ante. Here’s what’s on the horizon for QR code security:
- Coloured backgrounds: Some attackers embed QR codes on coloured backgrounds to make it harder for software to detect malicious anchors.
- Email attachments: Malicious QR codes are included as email attachments, bypassing security scans and tricking employees into scanning them.
- Password-protected attachments: Using password-protected files to conceal QR codes, making them harder for automated systems to scan.
- Macro-enabled files: The most sophisticated tactics involve embedding QR codes in macro-enabled Excel files. When opened, these files execute macros to assemble a malicious URL from separate cells, creating a QR code that many security solutions fail to analyse effectively.
While these techniques may help bypass automated defences, they often make the codes look more suspicious to vigilant employees.
Countering the threat: employee education and support
The key to mitigating QR code phishing lies in a combination of employee education and robust cybersecurity measures:
1. Security awareness training
- Regular training programs help employees recognise the signs of phishing emails and malicious QR codes.
- Phishing simulations, including quishing scenarios, allow organisations to assess risk and improve employee responses.
2. Secure QR Code readers
- Organisations should implement secure QR code scanning tools that detect and block malicious codes before being accessed.
3. Third-party expertise
- Many organisations turn to cybersecurity consultancies to manage the growing complexity of threats. These experts monitor systems, provide insights on the latest attack methods, and assist with digital investigations when breaches occur.
Why staying ahead matters
As QR code phishing becomes more sophisticated, IT and security teams face increasing pressure to defend against evolving threats. With stretched budgets and limited manpower, tackling this challenge internally can seem overwhelming. External IT consultancies offer critical support by providing expertise and resources to bolster organisational defences.
Rob Batters, Director of Managed and Technical Services at Northdoor, emphasises the importance of staying proactive:
“Quishing works like a traditional phishing attack, but by leveraging the perceived trust of QR codes, cybercriminals increase their success rate. Employee education, combined with advanced security solutions, is key to staying ahead of these tactics.”
Want to learn more about protecting your organisation from QR code phishing? Contact us today for expert insights and solutions.
