Kaspersky Lab Launches Secure QR Scanner

Woburn, MA – January 30, 2015 -Kaspersky Lab introduces its new free mobile application – Kaspersky QR Scanner. This program is compatible with Google Android and Apple iOS and can not only read information from quick response (QR) codes, but also warn users about potentially dangerous links within them.

QR codes are a convenient tool for sending links to a mobile device, from computer screens or printed pages. Though a useful tool, a popular method of deception used by cybercriminals is to encrypt a phishing link in a QR code. Since it can be challenging to identify a malicious QR code with the naked eye, cybercriminals are not only able to replace pictures with codes online, but also physically glue their malicious QR codes over genuine ones on real-world posters.

Kaspersky Lab has a proven track record of successfully combating phishing threat and has extensive databases of malicious links and effective technologies to identify hazardous sites that recently appeared on the Internet. Now Kaspersky Lab is extending its anti-phishing protection to QR codes.

Kaspersky QR Scanner is a free application that uses the following approach: scan – check – open. As soon as the QR code becomes visible to the device's camera, the app responds by checking the information encoded in the QR code. If the code is valid, the scanner will open the page. However, if the link leads to a phishing or a malicious site, the user receives a warning notification. In addition to the website addresses, the scanner correctly detects any texts encrypted in QR codes as well as contact information, and can also quickly accept Wi-Fi settings and connect the device to the network*.

“All communication channels via which cybercriminals can transfer harmful information to devices need to be protected. Today they are hiding links in QR codes, so we need a secure scanner. Tomorrow, if they learn to send links via the radio or attach a punch card reader to telephones, we will have to protect them as well. The main thing is that Kaspersky Lab technology can detect the risk and effectively protect users,” said Alexey Chikov, senior product manager, Kaspersky Lab.

Kaspersky QR Scanner is a new addition to the range of Kaspersky Lab mobile products for consumers, including Kaspersky Safe Browser for iOS and Windows Phone, Kaspersky Internet Security for Android and Kaspersky Password Manager for iOS and Android.

* For Android OS only.

About Kaspersky Lab

Kaspersky Lab is the world’s largest privately held vendor of endpoint protection solutions. The company is ranked among the world’s top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users*. Throughout its more than 17-year history Kaspersky Lab has remained an innovator in IT security and provides effective digital security solutions for large enterprises, SMBs and consumers. Kaspersky Lab, with its holding company registered in the United Kingdom, currently operates in almost 200 countries and territories across the globe, providing protection for over 400 million users worldwide. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.

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Media Contact
Sarah (Bergeron) Kitsos 
781.503.2615
sarah.kitsos@kaspersky.com

* The company was rated fourth in the IDC rating Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue by Vendor, 2013. The rating was published in the IDC report "Worldwide Endpoint Security 2014–2018 Forecast and 2013 Vendor Shares (IDC #250210, August 2014). The report ranked software vendors according to earnings from sales of endpoint security solutions in 2013.