Government warns on increasing Quishing attack

Quishing attack is a type of phishing attack that uses QR codes to trick people into visiting a malicious website or downloading a virus-filled document. With the increasing popularity of QR codes, quishing attacks have become a growing concern for businesses and individuals alike.

See how a quishing attack works:

1. Attackers create a malicious QR code. This code can be embedded with a link to a fake website that looks like a legitimate one, such as a bank or social media login page. Alternatively, the code could be linked to a malware downloader that will infect the victim's device with malicious software.

2. The attackers place the QR code in a location where people are likely to scan it. This could be on a physical object, such as a product packaging or a poster, or in a digital format, such as an email or social media post.

3. An unsuspecting victim scans the QR code. This takes them to the malicious website or downloads the malware, depending on the type of attack.

4. The victim enters their personal information or downloads the malware. If the victim enters their personal information on the fake website, the attackers can steal it and use it for identity theft or other fraudulent purposes. If the victim downloads the malware, it could give the attackers access to their device and steal their data or even take control of their device.

Quishing attacks can be very dangerous because they can be difficult to detect. QR codes can look like any other image, and there is no way to tell if they are malicious just by looking at them. Additionally, people are often trusting of QR codes, as they are seen as a convenient way to access information. As a result, people are more likely to scan a QR code without thinking twice, which makes them more vulnerable to quishing attacks.

It is time to protect yourself from quishing attacks: Be cautious of QR codes that you don't know. If you see a QR code that you don't recognize, don't scan it. Only scan QR codes from trusted sources. If you're not sure whether a QR code is safe, don't scan it.

Be aware of the signs of a phishing attack. Phishing attacks often use urgency, scare tactics, or promises of free prizes to trick people into clicking on malicious links or opening attachments.