Cybersecurity experts are warning people about a simple but dangerous scam that can give hackers access to all the data on a smartphone within seconds.
The scam involves sending a package that looks like a gift from a familiar brand. Inside, there is a QR code. If a person scans the code, hackers can access personal information, including contacts, photos, credit card details, and banking information.
Former police officer Bo Braxton Da Savage explained on Instagram: “Once you scan the QR code, every bit of information in your phone is going to get sent to the scammer – your credit card information, your bank information, your pictures, your phone numbers, your contacts.”
Adrianus Warmenhoven from NordVPN added that scanning a malicious QR code on a phone with an unpatched browser can allow hackers to take control of the device and infect it with malware.
Experts advise against scanning QR codes from unknown sources, even if they appear to come from trusted brands. Instead, users should verify the sender before interacting with any codes.
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