QR Code Decoder
QR Codes are a fantastic way for running a successful advertising campaign as they are contactless, effortless, and cheap.
You may have noticed the presence of QR codes on billboards, magazines, and web pages. Have you ever wondered what a QR code is? And how is it playing a role in the transformation of marketing campaigns? QR stands for "Quick Response." QR codes may look simple, but every code has essential information about the product in a 2D matrix. It is just like a barcode but has more data storage capacity. Most trendy smartphones have built-in QR readers, making it easy for consumers to access the information.
QR codes have made it easy for large companies and famous brands to share information about their products with consumers; they use QR codes in marketing and advertising campaigns. Instead of the fact that they contain plenty of information, this thing won't make QR codes slow, they give the user access to information instantly, and this justifies their title Quick Response.
During COVID-19, QR codes have played a significant role in reducing the transmission and tracking virus spread. QR code technology allows doctors to leave the paperwork and access patient information within seconds. Since it is a contactless, easy-to-use system, hospitals prefer to use it for delivering patient information instantly.
QR Code Decoder
What Are QR Codes?
A Japanese automobile company Denso Wave initially released QR codes in 1994 to track automobiles and their parts during manufacturing. After releasing it, the company decided that it would not exercise the patent rights of the QR codes, making it legal for anyone to build it for their benefit. QR codes contain complete information about the product to which they are attached, easily readable by QR readers.
Unlike barcodes which are readable only in one direction, QR codes are read in two directions; consequently, they can store a large amount of data. Numeric, alphanumeric, kanji, and byte/binary are the four standard encoding modes of the QR codes to house the data efficiently. These codes became popular in advertising, marketing, and supply chain as it allows user product tracking, item identification, time tracking, and document management.
QR codes have broad applications in our everyday life and have made life easy.
- You can download an app on Google Play directly using a QR code.
- You can access the Wi-Fi by saving encryption details.
- Banks use it for the authentication of accounts and to verify login details.
- You can also send and receive payment information.
QR code has such a fantastic design that a user can scan it in seconds and get access to the information instantly without wasting time scanning it properly, as it will work no matter from which angle you scanned it. In 2002, the first smartphone with a built-in QR code reader grabbed the attention of many people worldwide.
The world has witnessed a massive increase in the number of users of smartphones in the last two decades, which led to a rise in companies using QR codes. The parent company Denso Wave continues to work on its original design up till now. Their new QR code design is fantastic, with exceptional traceability and brand protection features. These distinctive features allow people to trust QR codes for transferring and receiving payments.
How Do I Scan The QR Code?
Since the purpose behind the invention of the QR codes was to track the information of the relevant product at your fingertips within seconds, their latest design justifies this purpose. The newest QR code design enables you to scan it from any angle without the confusion of scanning it at a particular angle. Most smartphones have a built-in QR code reader; however, some older devices need a particular app for the QR reading. Follow the simple steps to scan the QR code on your device.
- First, open the app or camera with a built-in QR reader on your smartphone.
- Hold the smartphone with an open camera, point it towards the code for a few seconds, and scan it from any angle.
- You will see relevant information within seconds.
Are QR Codes Safe?
It is the 21st century, and just like the rest of the world, criminals have also turned themselves to online scams. It is easy for criminals to embed a malicious URL inside the QR code that can steal your personal information once you scan it. A malicious URL inside a QR code can also redirect you to a phishing site, giving criminals access to your identity and credit card information.
It is not difficult for scammers to alter the QR code which can redirect the consumer to a malicious site. Besides opening the site, these malicious URLs can add or delete contacts from your mobile phone, and even they can compose an email. Some malicious websites can download software on your mobile without your consent when you visit them.
Does QR Code Collect My Personal Data And Information?
No! Scanning a QR code doesn't put you under threat of access to your identity or credit card information by an unidentified source. The QR code generator software doesn't access your personal information, but the location, how many times the code is scanned, and at what time. It can also detect the consumer's device with which he scans the code.
Can Someone Hack a QR Code?
QR code itself has no security risk, as no one can hack it. But the attackers can edit the destination of the QR codes without being detected. Scammers can create a malicious URL and add it with a QR code, scanning which can redirect the consumer to a phishing site, which results in stealing your personal and bank information. Therefore, you should not scan a QR code from an anonymous source.
How Do QR Codes Work in Business Marketing?
QR codes work well for running a successful marketing campaign for large companies and brands. It is effortless and budget-friendly for companies to market their products via barcodes, as nowadays, everyone has a smartphone in hand. These codes are permanent and don't go anywhere as long as the action or landing page is available. There are two types of QR codes, one is static, and the other one is dynamic.
Static QR Code
Static QR codes give a wonderful experience during one-time marketing campaigns, where there is no need for the upgradation of QR codes. It is not possible for the user to edit the static QR code, as it has a deep-seated URL with a fixed destination. Static QR codes are not widely used, as it is expensive for manufacturers to print new packaging every time the code needs an upgrade.
Dynamic QR Code
This code offers more extensive features than static QR codes. They are editable, making it possible for the manufacturer to change the destination addresses and other code functionality at any time. Dynamic codes don't store the data but redirect you to a webpage, coupon, event page, or PDF. Most large manufacturing firms and famous brands use dynamic QR codes for their marketing campaigns, as there is no need to generate a new code every time while changing the content.
It has a short URL embedded in the code, which remains the same even after the code generation. However, the destination URL of dynamic codes is editable, saving a lot of money and effort. Dynamic codes are not complicated, so it is easy to scan them. You can protect this code with a custom password, making it easy for you to track the entire record of it at your fingertips.
FAQs
Can you search for a QR code from a picture?
Yes! You can scan a QR code from a picture using google image-recognition technology. Google Assistant, Google Apps, and Google Photos have this ability.
Can humans read QR codes?
The QR code is not readable by humans, as they are meant to be read by the computer's aided eye. You can only decode a QR code with a smart by using a particular App or a built-in camera.
Can you scan a QR code from a screenshot?
Google Lens App allows you to scan the QR code from a screenshot. Open the App, and select 'Image." Open the screenshot with a QR code. The app will scan your code and present you with the relevant information in the blink of an eye.
How do I decode a Wi-Fi password and QR code?
Open an app that reads a QR code on a second android phone and points the phone's camera at the QR code. The app will scan and display a human-readable version of the Wi-Fi password within seconds.
Conclusion
QR code is a type of barcode that stores information in horizontal and vertex patterns. QR code is the current mode of running successful advertising and campaigns with less budget. It is easy to scan a QR code with your smartphone. Humans can't read the QR code; attackers take advantage of this and edit the codes' destinations leading the user to lose their bank balance and social security numbers.
Static and dynamic codes are the two kinds of QR codes. Static codes are permanent, not editable. Dynamic codes are editable, making them more popular among manufacturers. QR code generator software doesn't access your identity and other valuable information. QR code generator software can only access data; the number of times the code was scanned, the time of scanning the code, and the consumer device.