Quishing: The Modern Cybersecurity Threat You Need to Know About
17 Aug 2026
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5 min. read
Familiarity can be a double-edged sword in cybersecurity. Take QR codes for example. They are everywhere now, from menus to emails, but they can also be a tool for malicious actors. Let’s dive into the world of “quishing” and how it can impact your business.
Quishing, short for ‘Quick Response Phishing’, leverages QR codes to bypass traditional security measures and lure unsuspecting employees into cyber traps. These codes can easily disguise malicious links and move the attack from a secure corporate environment to a vulnerable personal device.
Understanding the Danger of Quishing
QR codes are popular for their convenience, but that same popularity makes them an attractive tool for cybercriminals. They can hide malicious URLs behind visual patterns, making it difficult for traditional filters to detect. This concealment, combined with social engineering tactics and a sense of urgency, creates a potent threat.
According to the ESET Threat Report H1 2026, malicious QR codes were present in 11% of phishing emails in the first half of 2026. The trend is on the rise, with attackers using quishing for various malicious purposes, from stealing credentials to spreading malware.
The Evolving Threat Landscape
Malicious actors are constantly innovating with quishing attacks. They are now targeting MFA tokens, bypassing app store security, and even using QR codes to redirect users to legitimate apps for nefarious purposes. The threat extends to state-sponsored groups, as evidenced by the North Korean Kimsuky outfit’s use of QR codes in spearphishing campaigns.
Protecting Your Business from QR Phishing
To mitigate the risk of quishing, organizations need to focus on a combination of user awareness, technical controls, and proactive measures. Employee training, email security solutions, mobile security tools, MFA, and continuous monitoring are essential components of a robust defense strategy.
By reducing the attack surface, enforcing least privilege access, and staying vigilant with security updates, businesses can stay ahead of the quishing threat. Incident response plans should also be in place to handle any security breaches effectively.
Embracing Security in Familiarity
As QR codes and quishing become commonplace in the digital landscape, organizations must not let familiarity breed complacency. Just as employees have learned to spot traditional phishing attempts, they must now adapt to identify and thwart quishing attacks. With the right measures in place, familiarity can indeed strengthen security.
