QR Safety Guides
Everything you need to know about QR code safety.
Practical, no-nonsense guides on QR code scams — how they work, how to spot them, and what to do if something goes wrong.
What Is Quishing? QR Code Phishing Explained
The basics of how QR code phishing works, why it's spreading fast, and why it slips past defenses that catch ordinary phishing links.
GuideHow to Check if a QR Code Is Safe Before Scanning
A step-by-step walkthrough — from the free built-in phone preview to a full destination safety check — before you tap anything.
Device guideHow to Scan a QR Code from a Screenshot or Photo
The code is already on your phone — here's how to read it on the same device, with tabbed steps for iPhone and Android.
Real casesReal QR Code Scam Examples
Parking meters, restaurant menus, delivery notices, and email attachments — documented cases of how these scams actually play out.
Physical inspectionHow to Spot a Tampered or Fake QR Code Sticker
What to look for with your eyes, before you even reach for your phone — the physical tells that a code has been swapped or stickered over.
If it's too lateI Scanned a Malicious QR Code — What Do I Do Now?
A calm, step-by-step response plan if you've already tapped through — what to check, what to change, and when to worry.
For business ownersQR Code Safety for Businesses: Protecting Your Customers
If you deploy QR codes on menus, payments, or signage, here's how to actually reduce the risk of them being swapped.
ReferenceQR Code Safety Glossary
Plain-language definitions for quishing, phishing, threat intelligence, and every other term you'll run into.
TechnicalHow Google Web Risk Actually Works
The threat-intelligence system behind every check on this site — how it's built, its update latency, and what that means for accuracy.
TechnicalStatic vs. Dynamic QR Codes
Both look identical to scan. The security model behind them — physical tampering vs. account compromise — is not.
TechnicalInside a QR Code: Structure and Error Correction
How codes are built, how much damage they can repair, and why real sticker scams replace the whole code. Includes a size calculator.
Use caseAre Restaurant QR Menus Safe?
What diners should check before scanning, and what owners should do to secure their own codes.
Use caseQR Codes at Events
Tickets, badges, and check-in codes each carry a different risk — for attendees and organizers alike.
Use caseA Guide for Seniors
No jargon, no judgment — three simple rules and a free tool to double-check anything uncertain.
Use caseQR Safety Training for Your Team
A 5-minute brief and a simple policy line most existing security training doesn't cover yet.
Use caseAre Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal QR Codes Safe?
The real risk with peer-to-peer payment QR codes isn't technical — it's substitution.
ComparisonCheckThisQR vs. Other QR Safety Checkers
An honest comparison, not a sales pitch — where we differ, and where competitors genuinely do more.
Use caseA Guide for Teens
"Free followers," "free Robux," and giveaway QR codes follow a pattern once you know what to look for.
Use caseWhat to Look for in a QR Code Generator
Not all QR generators are equal — what actually matters before you create a code you'll deploy publicly.
Use caseQR Codes on Social Media
A verified account doesn't verify what a QR code in that content actually leads to.
TechnicalA Timeline of Quishing
From under 1% of phishing attacks in 2021 to state-linked actors in 2026 — how it actually grew, year by year.
Use caseHotel and Travel Codes
QR codes in hotel rooms, airports, and rental cars are easy to trust and easy to swap. Learn the red flags and what to do if you scanned a fake.
Use caseRetail Store Codes
Shelf labels, price tags, and loyalty displays can all carry swapped QR codes. Learn how fake coupon codes work and how to check before you scan.
Use caseGovernment and Official Codes
Fake tax, benefits, and fine notices use QR codes to steal personal data. Learn the warning signs and why you should never scan one from unsolicited mail.
Use caseApartment and Property Codes
QR codes on package lockers, intercoms, and mailrooms can be placed by outsiders. Learn the red flags and what residents and managers should do.
Use caseEV Charging and Gas Pumps
Fake QR codes near charging stations and fuel pumps promise discounts and capture card details. Learn the warning signs and safer ways to pay.