Quishing is Evolving: Fancy QR Codes are a Growing Threat

With QR codes everywhere, from menus to packages, they’ve become an easy shortcut for users to access information quickly. But with convenience comes risk. A rising threat in the cybersecurity landscape, known as quishing, is evolving in unexpected ways, making it more dangerous than ever before.

What Is Quishing?

Quishing, or QR code phishing, is a type of social engineering attack where cybercriminals use QR codes to direct victims to malicious websites that steal data, install malware, or harvest credentials. Unlike traditional phishing, there’s no visible link for users to inspect. Once a QR code is scanned with a mobile device, it instantly redirects to a destination the attacker controls.

The New Threat: “Fancy” QR Codes

Historically, QR codes were simple black-and-white grids. Security conscious users could sometimes spot tampering simply because something looked off. But attackers are upping their game by using stylised or “fancy” QR codes that incorporate colours, rounded shapes, logos, and background images, all while still scanning successfully. These visual enhancements make it harder for the human eye or automated tools to identify something suspicious.

According to recent research, these artistic variants maintain functionality but break the visual cues defenders and users rely on for detection. This means attackers can make malicious codes appear legitimate, blending them into branding or marketing materials with alarming realism.

Why Fancy QR Codes Make Detection Harder

• Harder for users to spot: Traditional black-and-white patterns acted as a subconscious signal of “code you should verify.” Colourful or branded codes remove that cue.
• Security tools struggle: Many security controls are tuned to detect standard patterns, fancy designs can defeat pattern-based detection systems.
• Mobile-first risk: Because most people scan QR codes with their smartphones, often outside corporate security controls, malicious QR codes can bypass enterprise protections entirely.

Real-World Impact

Attacks using QR codes aren’t hypothetical. Research shows a significant number of people scan QR codes without verifying the destination, and millions have been redirected to harmful sites as a result. Meanwhile, regulators and authorities in the U.S. have issued warnings, urging users to treat unexpected QR codes, especially on packages, with scepticism.

What Businesses Should Do

Quishing is another reminder that human behaviour remains one of the biggest risk factors in cybersecurity. Here’s how organisations can respond:

1. Educate Your Teams

Train employees to treat unsolicited QR codes with the same caution as suspicious links in emails or attachments. Encourage them to:

• Consider the source before scanning.
• Look for alternative ways to access information (e.g. type in URLs manually).
• Be wary of QR codes in unexpected places or on unverified marketing materials.

2. Integrate into Security Awareness Training

Ensure your security awareness programmes include examples of QR code phishing and practical rules for verification, especially since these attacks are increasingly hard to spot. Tools that simulate quishing attacks can help reinforce good habits.

3. Promote Mobile Security Best Practices

Because QR codes are typically scanned on mobile devices:

• Encourage users to verify URLs shown after scanning.
• Ensure devices have up-to-date security software.
• Use mobile threat defence solutions where possible.

4. Consider Phishing Readiness Assessments

Many organisations now include QR code-based scenarios in their phishing tests. Identifying users who are prone to scanning risky codes can help tailor training and reduce overall human risk.

Quishing may look like an innocuous QR code, but it can deliver serious consequences if users are not vigilant. As cybercriminals adopt fancier, more convincing designs for malicious QR codes, both technical defences and user education must keep pace. This should treated as an emerging area of risk, not an afterthought, in their cybersecurity programmes.