QR codes seem pretty innocuous until you scan a bad one and get something nasty on your system. If you want to keep your phone and your data safe, there are a few ways you can identify a fake QR code.

It’s pretty easy to create a fake QR code, and it can be difficult to determine if a code is real before you scan. But there are some ways to protect yourself and maintain online security.

“There are QR codes on the outside of the box and on the products, which I did not attempt to scan,” the customer said. In more benign cases, fake QR codes install software that floods a phone ...

"The best way to protect yourself here is to only scan codes from trusted senders. People are putting out fake fliers, posters. We're in a world where you can't trust anyone," Berger warns.