Do you use QR codes or do you avoid them?

[bweller@mstdn.social]

@JoBlakely Ive been known to use them in place of finding another way to copy small chunks of text

and signal uses it, so there's that i guess

i dont use a scanner that automatically previews or opens links: https://f-droid.org/packages/com.secuso.privacyFriendlyCodeScanner

Theyre on Mastodon also: @SECUSO_Research

[mamalake@beige.party]

@artemis @JoBlakely qr side quests for fulfilling mutual aid requests or donating to food banks- slipped over restaurant menu QR codes

[frantasaur@mastodon.ie]

@JoBlakely scanning a random qr code in the wild can be a security risk, they are often used for scams, and who knows what fake websites they might link to.

[joblakely@mastodon.social]

@Frantasaur I was thinking of adding them to my zines. They seem common there. I have them on my promo cards for my art and on tiny stickers I made also for my art.
But seeing as how so many seem wary (as am I) maybe it’s not worth adding it.

[zimzat@mastodon.social]

@JoBlakely It depends.

There's a restaurant that has outdoor seating with a QR on each table. It lets me order food without flagging a server from inside so no need to mask up just to get a seat. Menus should still be an option.

One place gives a QR on the receipt to pay on phone or at register

QR that replicates a visible text link are nice to have.

Saw a shopfront with only 'scan QR for hours' and immediately went 'never going there then'.

I hate QRs that are just shortener/tracker links.

[morrick@appdot.net]

@JoBlakely I’m in that grey area between ‘yes’ and ‘no’. There are situations where I use them because there is no alternative. A lot of places to eat where I live don’t have a paper menu and you have to scan a QR code to view it. Some apps need me to scan a QR code as means of authentication.

I’m aware that QR codes can be used maliciously, so I’m certainly not scanning every QR code I see in the wild.

[dukeduke@mastodon.social]

@JoBlakely Hard NEVER. I'd rather lose a limb first.

[joblakely@mastodon.social]

@morrick yeah. When covid began that really took off. It was more sanitary than menus. I just didn’t go to places or I asked for a menu. They did usually have one because not everyone brings a phone with them. I almost never do.

[vrek@mastodon.social]

@JoBlakely depends on qr code purpose and who made it. Like I had a bunch of accounts for different systems with mandatory 36 characters randomly generated passwords. I printed a book with all the usernames and passwords in qr codes. Yeah not best security but it was stored in a locked cabinet and no plain text. We also used qr codes for serial numbers as it was smaller and more reliable.

Now random qr codes stuck to a pole in town... No!

[kimlockhartga@beige.party]

@JoBlakely Only to check in for a vaccine. They make it hell if you say you don't have your phone with you.

[wcbdata@vis.social]

@JoBlakely I usually check to see if they're tracking links or just an encoded URL before using. I avoid trackers - especially big corporate trackers - like the plague. I also develop a rash whenever someone sends me an email with a QR code in it. Yeesh.

[cherrybombspice@mastodon.sdf.org]

@JoBlakely If I must I only use QR codes I trust which is super rarely. There's so many ways to get hacked, I prefer not to risk it.

[softicecreamlesley@famichiki.jp]

@JoBlakely QR codes are wonderful for many purposes but I prefer to order my food from a real, live person.

[joblakely@mastodon.social]

@softicecreamlesley
What if it was on an artists business postcard, or zine directing you to the artists website or similar?

[joblakely@mastodon.social]

It seems that so far, regardless I have to print the website in text. So is there any benefit to using a QR code?

[softicecreamlesley@famichiki.jp]

@JoBlakely Of course. Anything is better than typing in a URL. I own an English school in Japan and using QR codes to help my students access what they need has been a really game changer.

Also, I have a QR code on a poster in the front window of my school that interested people can scan to access our website.

[softicecreamlesley@famichiki.jp]

@JoBlakely QR codes were invented in my prefecture by Denso corporation.

[joblakely@mastodon.social]

@softicecreamlesley thank you! This is good info to know and consider.

[joblakely@mastodon.social]

@softicecreamlesley cool!!

[ainmosni@social.ainmosni.eu]

@JoBlakely voted yes, but the real answer is "it depends". I don't get the hate for them though.