• Dave@lemmy.nz
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    23
    ·
    edit-2
    1 day ago

    QR codes just aren’t made for security. They shouldn’t be used anywhere security is required.

    I get what you’re saying but it’s at least a little bit funny that they are regularly used for security in the form of scan to login (e.g. Steam), verify your session (e.g. Matrix), etc. Of course these are in a closed ecosystem so the QR code itself is not the security. But I just found it funny you said that when 90% of my QR code usage is for security.

    • rockerface 🇺🇦@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      23
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 day ago

      I mean, generating a one time QR code for login is one thing. It’s the equivalent of a one time password. But a permanent QR code is not that. They still aren’t inherently secure, but they can be used in situations where showing a code in plain text would be just as secure.

      • vaguerant@fedia.io
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        1 day ago

        Yeah, my language was overly broad. You can use QR codes as part of a system where the security is going on elsewhere, but the integrity of the QR code itself isn’t something that can be relied on for security.

    • Fiery@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 day ago

      I mean it’s more like it’s used to transfer small amounts of data over a visual medium in those cases. Basically just a shortcut over having to type a whole string of characters manually.