QR-Codes have been Weaponized. Now it's Time to Protect Secure Encrypt

QR Phishing (Quishing), QR-jacking, and AI-powered fraud are escalating. iTRACE Cyber delivers the world’s most secure 2D Code technology to protect people, brands, and systems.

The Problem

QR-Codes are everywhere: banks, parking meters, restaurant menus, and more. But they’re also open-source, easy to clone and now actively exploited by criminals and state actors.

  • Nation States have weaponized QR-Codes to deploy malware and gain access to systems, data and devices.
  • Fake QR stickers are being placed on parking meters and tickets, tricking users into entering their credit card data.
  • Restaurants have unknowingly helped attackers phish customers via malicious QR-Code menu links.
  • UK Surge : According to The Guardian, Action Fraud received 1,386 reports of QR-Code scams in 2024 — more than double the prior year. In Q1 of 2025 alone, there were 502 reports.
  • Victim Stories: One driver scanned a QR-Code at a train station, only to later receive a call from scammers posing as her bank, eventually racking up £13,000 of fraudulent debt.
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"QR-Codes are the Trojan horse of modern convenience"

Seven Cybersecurity Commandments

Despite widespread warnings from the FBI, FTC and global cybersecurity firms not to scan QR-Codes, most organizations continue deploying QR-Codes with no built-in protection.

Our Solution

Meet iTRACE 2DMI®

Secure. Scalable. AI-powered. Browser-based.

At iTRACE Cyber, we leverage state-of-the-art technology to safeguard your users from Cybersecurity threats and fraud exposed by QR-Codes. Our innovative solutions help businesses to thrive safely in the complex digital world.

  • Uses encrypted keys unique to each deployment
  • Works on any browser, no app downloads needed
  • Connects securely to blockchains or internal ledgers
  • Detects and flags fraudulent links and content using AI-powered analysis

iTRACE 2DMI® is the only secure, browser-native, frictionless, 2D coding solution available today. iTRACE 2DMI is the "HTTPS" of the 2D symbology world.

iTRACE Application Use Cases

Scannable 2FA, MFA & PAM

Use iTRACE 2DMI® to enable Secure Privileged Access Management. Deliver secure, scannable 2FA and MFA sessions for users.

OTP Applications

iTRACE 2DMI® can be used to provide a secure and scannable one time password replacing digit or text strings.

Payments Processing

Use iTRACE 2DMI® to enable payments and process transaction to accounts replacing the existing QR-Code use

Device Enablement

iTRACE 2DMI® can be be used to add capabilities to a device or give a device access to a new account by scanning the iTRACE 2DMI in a secure browser session

Account Enrollment

iTRACE 2DMI® can be used to activate or enroll a new account or add capabilities to an existing account

Secure Digital Tokens and NFT's

iTRACE 2DMI® Marks can be used to securely transact crypto currency payments and can also act as NFT’s creating a digital, scannable security token.

Not a QR-Code

How iTRACE is Different

iTRACE 2DMI® is not just another QR-Code. It is:

  • Secure: Prevents Quishing and QR-Jacking
  • Tamper-aware: Flags suspicious or reused instances of codes.
  • Cloud-integrated: Real-time validation via secure infrastructure.
  • App-free: Frictionless scanning in the browser.

In contrast to traditional QR-Codes :

  • iTRACE codes cannot be replaced by a simple sticker.
  • Our format resists spoofing, scraping, and redirection.
  • The system validates link integrity before loading content.

Industry Voices

“The banks cybersecurity teams hate QR-Codes but have no alternative today.”​

“This could potentially replace OTP for passwordless solutions.”

Why the Bad Actors are Winning

QR-Codes are open source and easily manipulated.

Artificial Intelligence is automating Quishing and QR-Jacking code generation.

Users are trained to blindly trust QR-Codes.

The damage hits fast: reputation, revenue, and regulatory risk.

Proven at Scale

Million
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Physical Units secured globally

SDKs available for Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android.

API-ready for web, mobile, and SaaS deployments.

No app required. Works instantly via mobile browser.

Contact Us

We would love to speak with you.
Feel free to reach out to learn more.

Case Studies

• Banking: ING QR-clone attack mitigation

• Mobility: Public parking system spoofing in UK, Texas, and Georgia

News

Ongoing updates and press coverage about QR threats and iTRACE Cyber’s work to counter them.