QR codes are a useful and popular tool in both personal and business settings as the globe moves toward contactless technologies. These square-shaped barcodes are now a standard part of everyday life. You can use them to view restaurant menus, make purchases, log into apps, and verify your identity. However, this ease of use has led to a new and deadly cybersecurity threat called “quishing,” which is derived from the combination of the words “QR code” and “phishing.” In 2025, quishing became one of the fastest-growing social engineering strategies, surprising people and organisations by masking bad intentions behind what appears to be a basic scan. Thus, it is essential to understand how quishing works and why it is so powerful to protect both personal data and organisational infrastructure from this type of attack. This blog explains these quishing attacks and prevention strategies. 

What Is Quishing, and How Does It Work?

Quishing is a type of phishing attack in which hackers employ QR codes to send harmful links or payloads. When you scan a QR code, it typically directs you to a fake website or app that appears genuine but is actually designed to steal private information, such as credit card numbers, login credentials, or personal identity details. The QR code could also cause malware or spyware to be downloaded to the user’s device in rare situations. The best aspect of this method is that it conceals the destination URL, making it difficult for users to recognise warning signs before it’s too late. In contrast to regular phishing emails, which could show a suspicious link that you can click on, QR codes don’t show a preview. Instead, they display an opaque image that, when scanned, silently and instantly redirects you to another page.

Why Quishing Works So Well in 2025?

It’s not a coincidence that quishing is on the rise in 2025. It’s because of changes in people’s behaviour, how they use technology, and how much they trust QR codes. People have become accustomed to scanning QR codes in public places, offices, on product packaging, in online marketing, and even in emails without giving it a second thought. Attackers exploit this confidence by distributing fake QR codes through posters, phishing emails, digital displays, business cards, and even stickers that conceal genuine codes in public places.

In the workplace, employees may receive an email that appears to be from the company and includes a QR code that links to a fake security update or perks site. The email asks users to input their login information, which the attacker immediately collects. This means that quishing is not only a personal concern, but also a significant threat to security at the organisational level.

Real-Life Examples and Their Effects on Business

Businesses have been significantly impacted by quishing attacks in 2025. Imagine if employees at a bank or other financial institution receive a message on their work devices that appears official and includes a QR code directing them to a required IT security training module. Employees view the company’s logo and serious tone and scan the code with their phones. This takes them to a fake login page where they enter their credentials. Attackers can gain access to internal systems, customer databases, or email accounts in just a few minutes. This is because the breach comes via a personal mobile device, which means that typical endpoint protection can’t stop it.

In stores and hotels, attackers have been known to place bogus QR codes on tables or receipts that direct consumers to payment portals infected with malware. Quishing is much more harmful because it affects multiple devices. This is because security rules for mobile phones are generally less strict than those for desktop computers.

Key Challenges in Detecting and Preventing Quishing Attacks

It is harder to find a quishing attempt than a regular phishing attempt. Many email filters and web security technologies cannot examine QR codes in the same way they do text-based links because QR codes are essentially images. Also, scanners don’t show the complete URL before sending people to another page unless they go out of their way to check it. Attackers might abbreviate URLs, use domains that look trustworthy, or utilise Unicode techniques to trick the user.

Additionally, the fact that more and more businesses are using QR codes for tasks such as document verification, onboarding, and two-factor authentication makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake messages. Many businesses still lack specific monitoring or awareness systems in place for quishing threats, which leaves a worrisome gap in their overall cybersecurity posture.

How Businesses Can Keep Themselves Safe

As quishing instances rise, businesses in 2025 need to utilise a security strategy that includes education, technology, and policy. The first and most important task is to make users aware. Employees and customers need to learn how to identify suspicious QR codes, avoid scanning codes from untrusted sources, and verify URLs after scanning them. Cybersecurity awareness programs should now include specific sections on the risks of quishing, with a focus on how dangerous it is to use personal devices to access work-related resources through QR codes. From a technological perspective, businesses should utilise mobile threat defence (MTD) tools that can scan QR codes and verify the URLs they find to determine if they are malicious before granting access.

Security software should also be available on mobile devices, especially in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) settings, where workers use their own phones for work. IT teams should also disable automated QR-based actions in business apps wherever possible. They should also set up web gateway filters that warn users about questionable sites, even when they switch from a mobile network. Businesses in high-security fields, such as banking, healthcare, and law, may want toconsider using secure corporate QR platforms that generate encrypted, one-time-use QR codes with expiration dates and usage logs.

Putting in Place Strong Verification and Access Controls

Quishing generally works when attackers get people to provide their login information on phoney websites. Companies should tighten access controls on all systems to stop this from happening. Even if your credentials are stolen, multi-factor authentication (MFA) remains a substantial barrier. When MFA is enforced through various trusted channels, such as hardware tokens or app-based authenticators, stolen passwords have a significantly less detrimental effect.

Zero-trust security models that verify a device’s location, behaviour, and identity before allowing it access can also help prevent lateral movement in the event of a breach. Companies should also have strong QR code clearance processes in place. Only IT or marketing teams should be able to make codes, and the destination URL for each code should be tracked and checked for security compliance.

Keeping an Eye on the Environment and Physical Security

Physical environment monitoring is an important but less spoken about part of quishing protection. Many attacks begin with QR codes that are printed or placed in public or semi-public areas. Businesses should regularly check their buildings, marketing displays, and customer-facing documents for QR codes that have been altered or tampered with.

For example, attackers might put phoney overlays on a restaurant’s printed menu or a banner in a business lobby. When using QR codes for tickets or access control, exercise extreme caution in high-risk environments, such as conferences, trade shows, and public transportation hubs. Adding QR code authenticity checks to standard security audits and physical security processes can help prevent this type of breach.

Conclusion: Creating a Culture of Caution 

Attackers adapt their technology usage as it improves. Quishing is no longer a minor problem in 2025; it is a significant cybersecurity risk that impacts businesses of all sizes and across all industries. QR codes are easy to use and understand, making them a great way to engage people, especially in fast-paced, mobile-first workplaces. Building a culture of caution, verification, and tiered security is the best way to protect against this threat. Companies need to do more than just use antivirus software and email filters to protect all their digital and physical interactions, including the growing QR ecosystem. 

Businesses must stay one step ahead of quishing attacks and safeguard their people, data, and reputation from this modern kind of digital deception. Employing security measures such as training employees, building a secure mobile architecture, monitoring activities, and utilising advanced threat detection is a good start. You can also utilise the professional assistance of GoAllSecure. We can help you enhance the security of your business. Contact us at +91 85 2723 7851 or +44 20 3287 4253 to learn more about quishing attacks and our solutions.