The Cyber Security Expert‘s Guide to Safely Scanning QR Codes in 2026

QR codes have become ubiquitous in our mobile-first world, enabling smartphone users to instantly access a website, download an app, view a restaurant menu, make a payment and much more with a simple scan of their camera. In fact, the number of US smartphone users scanning a QR code is expected to reach 99.5 million by 2025, equivalent to 38.6% of all mobile users, according to Insider Intelligence [1].

While incredibly convenient, QR codes can also pose security risks if you‘re not careful about what you scan. Cyber criminals can exploit the rising popularity of QR codes to spread malware, steal sensitive data, and launch phishing attacks or financial scams [2]. In this in-depth guide, I‘ll show you step-by-step how to scan QR codes safely on your iPhone or Android device, reveal the sneaky tricks hackers use, and share expert tips to protect your privacy and security.

How Do QR Codes Work? A Brief History

Quick Response or "QR" codes were invented in 1994 by Japanese company Denso Wave to track vehicle parts more efficiently [3]. They are a type of 2D matrix barcode that can encode up to 4296 characters of text data compared to traditional barcodes that are limited to 20 numerical digits.

When scanned with a camera or QR code reader, the unique black and white pixel pattern is decoded by software into readable text which typically contains a website URL, but can also be contact details, wifi login, or even Bitcoin wallet address. The use of QR codes has exploded in recent years, with an estimated 11 million households in the US scanning a QR code in 2020, up from just 9.76 million in 2018 [4].

How to Scan a QR Code on iPhone and Android

Modern smartphones have made it incredibly easy to scan QR codes without needing a separate app. Here‘s how it works on the two most popular mobile platforms:

Scanning QR Codes on iPhone (iOS 11 and later)

1. Open the built-in Camera app from your home screen or Control Center
2. Point the rear camera at the QR code, making sure it‘s in focus and within the frame. The camera should automatically recognize the QR code and show a notification at the top of the screen. If nothing happens, make sure "Scan QR Codes" is enabled in Camera settings.
3. Tap the notification to open the link associated with the QR code. Safari is the default browser, but you can choose to open in Chrome or Firefox if installed.

Scanning QR Codes on Android Phones

1. Launch the Camera app from your device‘s app drawer or home screen
2. Point the camera at the QR code you want to scan. Make sure the code is clearly visible on your screen
3. Hold your phone steady for 2-3 seconds until a notification pops up with the link or action triggered by the QR code. If you‘re not getting any notifications, go to Settings, search for "QR code scanning" and make sure the feature is toggled on. Some phones also let you adjust the scanning sensitivity if needed.
4. Tap the notification to complete the action, such as opening a URL or saving a contact.

3 Methods to Scan a QR Code on Your Phone Screen

Sometimes the QR code you need to scan is already on your mobile device screen, like in a text message, email attachment, social media post, or on a website. While you obviously can‘t point your phone camera at itself, there are a few tricks and apps you can use in this situation:

1. Scan QR Code with Google Lens

Google Lens is a powerful image recognition tool that can identify text, objects, landmarks and of course QR codes right from your photos. Here‘s how to use it:

1. Take a screenshot of the screen with the QR code and open the Google Photos app
2. Find and select the screenshot you just captured
3. Tap the Google Lens icon at the bottom of the photo
4. The app will highlight any QR codes in the image. Tap the one you want to scan
5. A Google Search result page will open with the link or information stored in the QR code

Note: Google Lens is pre-installed on most Android phones. iPhone users can download it for free from the App Store.

2. Use iPhone‘s Code Scanner

Later versions of iOS have a built-in function in the Camera app to scan QR codes from images:

1. Take a screenshot of the QR code you want to scan
2. Open the Photos app and find the screenshot
3. Press and hold on the QR code in the image until a notification appears saying "Open in Safari" or "Search Web for…"
4. Release your finger and tap the notification to open the link in Safari

3. Try a Third-Party QR Code Reader App

There are numerous free and paid QR code apps available for both iOS and Android with added features like scanning history, batch scanning, and security checks. Here are a few highly rated options:

• Kaspersky QR Scanner (iOS, Android) – scans images and checks URLs for threats before opening
• NeoReader (iOS, Android) – scans QR codes from images and supports multiple formats
• QR Code Reader (iOS) – simple interface to scan codes from camera or images
• Lightning QR Scanner (Android) – fast scanning with search and screenshot functions

Security Risks and Safety Tips for QR Codes

QR codes themselves don‘t pose a direct threat to your device or data. The real danger lies in the destination of the QR code – the website URL, the file it downloads, or the action it triggers on your phone. Hackers can exploit QR codes in various ways:

• Embed malicious URLs that download malware, spyware, or ransomware to your device [5]
• Create QR codes that look legitimate but send you to a phishing site designed to steal login credentials
• Encode QR codes with a malicious command to force your phone to open an app or make a payment [6]
• Place a malicious QR code sticker over a genuine one in a public place

To protect yourself, follow these expert tips when scanning QR codes:

1. Verify the source of the QR code before scanning. Only scan codes from trusted businesses, organizations, or contacts.
2. Check for signs of tampering, such as a sticker placed over the original code.
3. Use a secure QR code scanner app that checks URLs for potential threats, such as Kaspersky QR Scanner or Norton Snap (see comparison below).
4. Be wary of short links or unfamiliar URLs you can‘t recognize.
5. When scanning a QR code in public (on a poster, product label, etc.), hover your phone camera over the code first to preview the URL. If it looks suspicious, don‘t scan it.
6. Keep your phone‘s operating system and security apps up to date.
7. Never enter personal information or login credentials on a website you reached via a QR code unless you can verify the site is legitimate.
8. Disable automatic QR code scanning in your camera settings so that you have to manually trigger each scan.

QR Code Scanner App	Platform	Price	Security Features	Scans from Images
Kaspersky QR Scanner	iOS, Android	Free	Malicious URL & phishing checks, secure browser, customizable	Yes
Norton Snap	iOS, Android	Included with Norton 360 plans	Malicious URL detection, security alerts	No
Trend Micro QR Scanner	iOS, Android	Free	Web threat detection, URL safety checks	Yes
AVG QR Code Reader	Android	Free	No URL checking	Yes
McAfee Mobile Security QR Scanner	Android	Included with McAfee plans	No URL checking	No

QR Code Usage Statistics

• 75.8% of respondents in the US and UK have scanned a QR code before, with 45.5% having done so in the last 3 months [7]
• 59% of US shoppers believe QR codes make their shopping experience more efficient [8]
• 55.8% of US adults aged 18-29 have used a QR code for a payment [9]
• QR codes are scanned an average of 5 times per day in 2024 [10]
• The most common use cases for QR codes are opening a website (40.1%), getting a coupon/discount (13.8%), and accessing more information (13.1%) [11]
• 87% of respondents in China have used WeChat Pay to complete a QR code mobile payment transaction, followed by 69% for Alipay [12]

The Bottom Line

QR codes make it incredibly quick and convenient to interact with the physical world using our smartphones. But that same frictionless experience means we need to be extra cautious about what codes we point our cameras at. Stick to scanning QR codes from trusted sources, use a secure scanner app to check for red flags, and think before you click any links. With a dose of healthy skepticism and the tips outlined here, you can harness the power of QR codes while keeping your mobile devices and data secure.

Sources

[1] https://www.insiderintelligence.com/charts/number-of-qr-code-users-in-the-us/
[2] https://www.bluefin.com/bluefin-news/qr-code-security-risks/
[3] https://www.qrcode.com/en/history/
[4] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1036517/us-adults-qr-code-use/
[5] https://ww2.frost.com/frost-perspectives/cybercriminals-hide-malware-in-qr-codes/
[6] https://www.cyberscoop.com/qr-code-hacks-ticketmaster-bitcoin-fraud/
[7] https://www.ivanti.com/company/press-releases/2021/ivanti-unveils-retail-report-with-stats-on-qr-code-usage
[8] https://www.retaildive.com/news/99-of-retailers-plan-to-use-qr-codes-by-2027-survey-finds/631052/
[9] https://www.emarketer.com/content/more-than-half-of-us-adults-will-use-qr-code-payment-2025
[10] https://scanova.io/blog/qr-code-statistics/
[11] https://www.statista.com/statistics/199328/most-popular-uses-of-qr-codes/
[12] https://www.marketingtochina.com/mobile-payment-usage-in-china-report-2020/