{"id":474,"date":"2022-03-08T16:14:12","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T16:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/?p=474"},"modified":"2022-03-08T16:14:14","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T16:14:14","slug":"qr-codes-and-virus-removal-protection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/qr-codes-and-virus-removal-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"QR Codes and Virus Removal &#038; Protection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Protect Yourself Using QR Codes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>QR codes are all the hype now. Invented in 1994 and popularized by the pandemic, QR codes have been popping up everywhere, including Super Bowl ads. The two-dimensional code advertised during the Super Bowl was Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange. It generated so much traffic that it crashed Coinbase\u2019s app, proving that people may need some safety training on this new digital format. Luckily, Coinbase is a reputable company, and no foul was done; however, with new technology comes new ways for people to abuse it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similar to the safety procedures you follow in avoiding suspicious emails and unknown links \u2013 you should <strong><em>NOT<\/em><\/strong> scan a QR code when you don\u2019t know its source! Cybercriminals may direct QR codes to malicious websites to steal personal data, embed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/computer-virus-malware-spyware-removal\">malware<\/a> to get access to your device, and redirect payments for their illegal use. QR codes mask the website you visit, so it\u2019s easier to get scammed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if a hacker created a domain called bankinfo.stealyourmoney.eu, you probably know better than to enter that URL. On the other hand, if a hacker embeds this URL into a QR code and sends it out in an email when you scan it, you\u2019ll see \u201cbankinfo\u201d and might not pay attention to the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When scanning QR codes, keep in mind:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Only scan a QR code from a trusted source.<\/li><li>Any sticker that says \u201cSave Money Here\u201d is probably a scam, especially if found on an ATM or gas pump, etc.<\/li><li>When you scan a QR code, make sure the website you visit is authentic. Check the URL to make sure it&#8217;s what you expected. Don&#8217;t ever enter your personal information on a website without verifying that it is official and secure.<\/li><li>Be highly cautious or never scan a QR code sent via email. QR codes were created to use when clicking a link is not possible. So, if a sender doesn&#8217;t include the link within email copy, consider this a red flag.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you are a business owner who uses QR codes, keep in mind:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Help your customers retain peace of mind by providing the URL near the QR sign. Include a short description, such as, \u201cThis QR code will take you to our menu at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatagreatmenu.com\">www.whatagreatmenu.com<\/a> If it does not, please let us know and DO NOT enter any personal information.\u201d<\/li><li>Make sure the QR code your customer\u2019s scan is the one you created. For example, check to ensure that no one has covered the official code with a sticker, etc.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to their use in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/barcode-scanner-app-qr-code-reader\">Inventory Management<\/a>, QR codes have become a convenient new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/digital-website-marketing-agency\">advertising tool<\/a> that we ourselves use at CPS. Like everything, common-sense measures need to be in place to protect your data. If you accidentally download a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/computer-virus-malware-spyware-removal\">computer virus<\/a> or find that your personal information has been compromised or, worse, held captive \u2013 shut down your computer or mobile device and bring it to us. We will clean your infected computer and, if needed, help retrieve your lost data and restore it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Founded in 1994, <a href=\"https:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?f=0012dhQDk_4wGOBJmXaE1Ip39lKFbY3YNOVSfQDrwOlv_LybFqUFO24qMaSRsXbNxcyhdo2-76X3FkBdaWFbTYWGSQ-jEobKRBgv1py-xxCFFndUxPz77w7mXBUp8bGlz3Jd25lEPa6HBQ=&amp;c=Ymu_Nc5REfF4RlJtFmWK6edZH__Z5dclXCOh146GdtgSll5Ab4IxGA==&amp;ch=0U-pDSJo2jYvVBOGRK36khtMC-zxEVLzWEkDiGds-1Lk5jb-vUdh9A==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Creative Programs and Systems<\/a> provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; implement internet marketing strategies for enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) results; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail <a href=\"mailto:info@cpsmi.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">info@cpsmi.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protect Yourself Using QR Codes QR codes are all the hype now. Invented in 1994 and popularized by the pandemic, QR codes have been popping up everywhere, including Super Bowl ads. The two-dimensional code advertised during the Super Bowl was Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange. It generated so much traffic that it crashed Coinbase\u2019s app, proving&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>QR Codes and Virus Removal &amp; Protection -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"QR Codes and Virus Removal &amp; Protection -\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/qr-codes-and-virus-removal-protection\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"QR Codes and Virus Removal &amp; Protection -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"QR Codes and Virus Removal &amp; Protection -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/qr-codes-and-virus-removal-protection\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-03-08T16:14:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-03-08T16:14:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Qr-code-image-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1365\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cps_admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cps_admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/qr-codes-and-virus-removal-protection\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/qr-codes-and-virus-removal-protection\/\",\"name\":\"QR Codes and Virus Removal & Protection -\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-03-08T16:14:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-03-08T16:14:14+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1cd8be06ab0ee33fe8de477eea6dc8cb\"},\"description\":\"QR Codes and Virus Removal & Protection -\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/qr-codes-and-virus-removal-protection\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/qr-codes-and-virus-removal-protection\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/qr-codes-and-virus-removal-protection\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.cpsmi.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"QR Codes and Virus Removal &#038; 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