What is Quishing? The Complete Guide to QR Phishing

Quishing – a blend of "QR code" and "phishing" – has become one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity threats of 2026. Unlike traditional phishing that uses suspicious email links, quishing hides malicious URLs behind innocent-looking QR codes, making them nearly impossible to detect with standard email filters.

How Quishing Works

The mechanics of quishing are deceptively simple. Attackers create a malicious QR code that, when scanned, redirects victims to a fake website designed to steal credentials, payment information, or install malware. The attack exploits a fundamental human behavior: we trust QR codes because we can't read them.

Unlike a suspicious URL like http://paypa1-secure-login.tk/verify that might raise red flags, a QR code hides its destination completely. Victims scan first and think later – often too late.

The Typical Quishing Attack Flow

1. 1. Creation: The attacker generates a QR code pointing to a phishing site, malware download, or cryptocurrency drainer.
2. 2. Distribution: The QR code is distributed via email (bypassing spam filters), printed and placed in physical locations, or shared on social media.
3. 3. Deception: The victim scans the code, believing it to be legitimate (a menu, payment portal, WiFi login, etc.).
4. 4. Exploitation: The victim enters credentials, payment info, or unknowingly downloads malware.
5. 5. Exfiltration: The attacker harvests the data and uses it for financial fraud or identity theft.

Why Quishing is So Effective

Several factors make quishing particularly dangerous compared to traditional phishing:

1. Bypasses Email Filters

Traditional phishing relies on clickable links that email security systems can scan and block. QR codes are images – they pass through spam filters undetected because the malicious URL is encoded in pixels, not text.

2. Implicit Trust in QR Codes

After the COVID-19 pandemic normalized QR code usage for menus, payments, and check-ins, people became conditioned to scan first and ask questions never. A 2025 survey found that 76% of users trust QR codes without verifying the destination.

3. Mobile Device Vulnerabilities

QR codes are scanned on phones, which typically show truncated URLs and lack the security extensions common on desktop browsers. Users can't easily preview the full URL before visiting.

4. Physical World Integration

Attackers can place fake QR stickers over legitimate ones in the real world – on parking meters, restaurant tables, ATMs, and event posters. This adds a layer of legitimacy that purely digital attacks lack.

Real-World Quishing Examples

How to Protect Yourself from Quishing

Protecting yourself from quishing requires a combination of awareness, verification, and the right tools:

How RexoGate Detects Quishing Attacks

RexoGate's QR Code Safety Checker uses 14 risk heuristics to analyze QR code destinations before you visit them:

• Protocol Verification: Flags HTTP (insecure) links that should use HTTPS.
• Typosquatting Detection: Identifies domains like paypa1.com or amaz0n.com designed to deceive.
• Punycode Analysis: Detects homograph attacks using Unicode characters (xn-- domains).
• Suspicious TLD Flagging: Warns about high-risk domain extensions (.tk, .xyz, .ru, etc.).
• URL Shortener Detection: Alerts when the destination is hidden behind bit.ly or similar services.
• Phishing Keyword Analysis: Scans for terms like "verify", "login", "account", "urgent" in suspicious contexts.
• File Extension Checks: Blocks links to executable files (.exe, .apk, .dmg, etc.).

All analysis happens 100% locally in your browser. Your QR codes are never uploaded to any server, ensuring complete privacy.

The Future of Quishing

As awareness grows, attackers will continue to evolve their tactics. We expect to see:

• AI-Generated QR Codes: Dynamically generated codes that evade pattern-based detection.
• Time-Delayed Attacks: QR codes that initially point to safe sites, then redirect to phishing pages after a delay.
• Cross-Platform Targeting: QR codes that detect your device and serve platform-specific malware.
• Deepfake Integration: QR codes embedded in AI-generated videos or images for added credibility.

The key to staying safe is maintaining healthy skepticism and always verifying before trusting.

Conclusion

Quishing represents a significant evolution in phishing tactics, exploiting our trust in QR codes and the seamless integration of digital and physical worlds. The good news is that with the right awareness and tools, you can protect yourself completely.

Remember: No legitimate organization will pressure you to scan a QR code for sensitive actions. When in doubt, navigate directly to websites by typing the URL, and always verify QR codes before scanning.