QR code phishing attacks: Risks and prevention strategies

QR code phishing, or "quishing," is a growing cybersecurity threat where attackers use QR codes embedded in emails, documents, or physical materials to direct victims to malicious sites, such as fake login pages or malware-hosting platforms. These attacks exploit the trust users place in QR codes and the difficulty security tools face in analyzing them, making them effective for credential theft, malware distribution, and financial fraud. Quishing combines technical evasion with social engineering by impersonating trusted brands or processes to prompt users into scanning without proper verification. Effective defense strategies include layered security measures, such as URL validation, employee training, and QR-focused phishing simulations, as well as leveraging tools like Sublime Security, which provides real-time detection and contextual analysis to identify and respond to QR-based threats effectively.