Spam with QR code targets mobile users
Researchers have revealed a new type of spam campaign that appears to be a test run to find out how mobile users will respond to social engineering attempts on their smartphones and tablets.
According to a Tuesday blog post from security firm Websense, the emails look like typical spam trying to hawk male enhancement drugs. However, in this case, they contain a link to a legitimate site -- 2tag.nl -- that generates quick response (QR) codes for URLs.
The link leads to an already-created QR code, which can be scanned by a mobile reader application available in places like the Android Market. After the code is recognized, a URL is loaded that advertises the counterfeit goods, including Viagra and Cialis. "This is a clear movement and evolution of traditional spammers toward targeting mobile technology," Elad Sharf, a Websense Security Labs researcher, wrote in the blog post.
