Spam emails leading to URLs with embedded QR codes

BANGALORE, INDIA: The Websense ThreatSeeker Network has reported that it has started spotting spam emails that lead to URLs that use embedded QR codes.

According to the security firm, this is a clear movement and evolution of traditional spammers towards targeting mobile technology.

Recently in the Websense Security Labs predictions for 2012, Websense suggested that mobile threats were going to be big this year. QR codes could be the next step in mobile malware propagation.

QR Codes turn it up a notch as an “ultimate url obfuscator.”

Elad Sharf, Security Researcher, Websense Security Labs said:  “We’ve been looking at QR codes as a potential malware/spam route for a while now. Inherent in the design is a level of trust and novelty that can be abused. In many ways it was just a matter of time before we saw spam messages point to URLs that use embedded QR codes. This is a clear movement and evolution of traditional spammers towards targeting mobile technology. Last year we predicted a 2012 shift towards mobile device attacks. One week in to the new year and that prediction is evident.”