Phishing with QR codes: what happened and why companies are worried

In recent days, various cybersecurity media and firms have warned of a very significant increase in phishing with QR codes, a technique that has multiplied its volume and is already being used on a recurring basis against corporate environments. East computer attack, known as Quishing, takes advantage of an everyday and widely accepted element to provoke security breaches with direct impact on the enterprise IT security.

In this article we analyze what is happening, why are these types of attacks skyrocketing and what real risks does it entail for organizations.

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What is known about phishing with QR codes?

According to information recently published by various specialized media, the campaigns of Phishing with QR codes has increased fivefold in recent months. Unlike traditional phishing, the malicious link does not appear visibly, but hidden inside a QR code which redirects to fraudulent pages.

These codes are being distributed primarily through:

• Corporate emails
• PDF documents and invoices
• Internal signage or supposed service notices
• Messages that simulate communications from vendors or the IT department itself

The goal is usually the same: steal corporate credentials or personal data that allows subsequent access to business systems.

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Why this type of attack is multiplying

The growth of phishing with QR codes is no accident. It responds to several very clear factors:

• El standard use of QR codes in business processes
• La user trust in this format
• La Difficulty with anti-phishing systems to inspect QR
• The use of cellphone, outside the corporate security perimeter

When scanning a QR, the user usually does so from a personal device, which Break the usual controls and facilitates the success of the attack without raising immediate alerts.

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How do these types of attacks occur

In most cases, the flow of the attack is simple and effective:

1. The user receives an apparently legitimate QR
2. He scans it from his mobile
3. Access a website that simulates a corporate service
4. Enter your credentials
5. The attacker reuses that access on real systems

A single compromised credential can quickly result in a Major security breach, especially if there is no multifactor authentication or abnormal access detection.

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Key lessons for companies

The rise of Quishing leaves several clear learnings for organizations:

• Phishing no longer depends only on visible links
• The mobile phone is part of the attack surface
• Traditional awareness falls short
• Controls must adapt to new vectors

To ignore this type of attack is to assume an unnecessary risk in a context where social engineering remains one of the most effective vectors.

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Cybersecurity as a strategic priority

Phishing with QR codes reinforces a known reality: cybersecurity must be addressed as a strategic priority, not just as a technical issue.

Reducing risk involves reviewing processes, training teams, extending protection to the mobile environment and improving early detection capacity. Failure to do so leaves open a door that attackers are already actively exploiting.

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How Apolo Cybersecurity Can Help

In Apolo Cybersecurity we help organizations to anticipate new attack vectors, such as phishing with QR codes, before they become real incidents.

We work on risk assessment, awareness adapted to current threats and the reinforcement of detection and response controls. Because the enterprise IT security it does not consist in reacting when the damage has already been done, but in reduce exposure and prepare before the attack occurs.

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Contact Apolo Cybersecurity and strengthen your organization in the face of the threats that are already setting the cybersecurity agenda.

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