System and method for securely obtaining information using QR codes

1 . A system, comprising:

a memory that stores a training dataset that includes solutions pertaining to determining malicious quick response (QR) codes; and

a processor operably coupled to the memory and configured to:

receive an image of a QR code;

quarantine the image of the QR code in an quarantined environment;

while the image of the QR code is quarantined in the quarantined environment:

analyze the image of the QR code using the training dataset and mock data to determine whether the QR code is malicious, wherein the analysis is based at least in part upon a correlation between information that is referenced by the QR code, a geographical location of the QR code and proximity to an entity associated with the geographical location of the QR code and wherein the mock data mimics actual data that is used to access information referenced by the QR code;

upon determining that the QR code is malicious, render the image of the QR code unreadable, wherein the rendering the image of the QR code unreadable comprises controlling a light source to emit light that erases a portion of image of the QR code to restrict access to information that is referenced by the QR code; and

update the training dataset by storing the QR code determined as malicious in the training dataset.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

update the training dataset by storing an identity of a source pertaining to the QR code determined as malicious in the training dataset; and

monitor one or more external repositories to determine other QR codes as malicious and update the training dataset with new solutions pertaining to determining the other QR codes as malicious.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor overlays a digital content over the image of the QR code using augmented reality.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the image of the QR code based at least in part upon characteristics of the QR code that include a composition of the QR code and a material on which the QR code is printed.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to utilize the mock data to access the information referenced by the QR code to determine whether the QR code is malicious.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, in analyzing the QR code, the processor is further configured to determine whether the image of the QR code is malicious based at least in part upon different characteristics of the QR code.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the QR code that has been imaged is authentic based at least in part upon whether the information referenced by the QR code is related to known or approved sources.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify the image of the QR code determined as malicious physically such that the QR code determined as malicious is rendered unreadable.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide an indication to a user that the QR code has been determined as malicious and to request a confirmation from the user that the QR code is malicious.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the analysis of the image of the QR code is further based at least in part upon characteristics of the QR code that include identifying signages or designs proximate the QR code.

11 . A method, comprising:

storing, in a memory, a training dataset that includes solutions pertaining to determining malicious quick response (QR) codes;

receiving an image of a QR code;

quarantining the image of the QR code in an quarantined environment;

while the image of the QR code is quarantined in the quarantined environment:

analyzing the image of the QR code using the training dataset and mock data to determine whether the QR code is malicious, wherein the analysis is based at least in part upon a correlation between information that is referenced by the QR code, a geographical location of the QR code and proximity to an entity associated with the geographical location of the QR code and wherein the mock data mimics actual data that is used to access information referenced by the QR code;

upon determining that the QR code is malicious, rendering the image of the QR code unreadable, wherein the rendering the image of the QR code unreadable comprises controlling a light source to emit light that erases a portion of image of the QR code to restrict access to information that is referenced by the QR code; and

updating the training dataset by storing the QR code determined as malicious in the training dataset.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

overlaying a digital content over the image of the QR code using augmented reality.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

analyzing the image of the QR code based at least in part upon characteristics of the QR code that include a composition of the QR code and a material on which the QR code is printed; and

utilizing the mock data to access the information referenced by the QR code to determine whether the QR code is malicious.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein analyzing the QR code to determine whether the image of the QR code is malicious is based at least in part upon different characteristics of the QR code.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

modifying the image of the QR code determined as malicious physically such that the QR code determined as malicious is rendered unreadable.

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

store, in a memory, a training dataset that includes solutions pertaining to determining malicious quick response (QR) codes;

receive an image of a QR code;

quarantine the image of the QR code in an quarantined environment;

while the image of the QR code is quarantined in the quarantined environment:

analyze the image of the QR code using the training dataset and mock data to determine whether the QR code is malicious, wherein the analysis is based at least in part upon a correlation between information that is referenced by the QR code, or a geographical location of the QR code and proximity to an entity associated with the geographical location of the QR code and wherein the mock data mimics actual data that is used to access information referenced by the QR code;

upon determining that the QR code is malicious, render the image of the QR code unreadable, wherein the rendering the image of the QR code unreadable comprises controlling a light source to emit light that erases a portion of image of the QR code to restrict access to information that is referenced by the QR code; and

update the training dataset by storing the QR code determined as malicious in the training dataset.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

update the training dataset by storing an identity of a source pertaining to the QR code determined as malicious in the training dataset; and

monitor one or more external repositories to determine other QR codes as malicious and update the training dataset with new solutions pertaining to determining the other QR codes as malicious.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

analyze the image of the QR code based at least in part upon characteristics of the QR code that include a composition of the QR code and a material on which the QR code is printed; and

utilize the mock data to access the information referenced by the QR code to determine whether the QR code is malicious.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine whether the image of the QR code is malicious based at least in part upon different characteristics of the QR code.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

provide an indication to a user that the QR code has been determined as malicious and to request a confirmation from the user that the QR code is malicious.