3 ms·

QR codes shouldn't exist in 2023, change my mind. We can recognize plants, animals and lanmarks using our phones, why can't we just read URLs with our cameras?

toomuchtodo 3y ago
Politely disagree. They are a durable machine readable means to communicate data. I would argue that when a QR code is read, more tech controls need to be in place to protect users prior to where they're navigating to (show full unrolled URL, big confirm button, check URLs against malware/malicious URL databases). Humans already don't check URLs carefully (email phishing and the efforts to encourage better behavior and awareness around that), they use QR codes because they are easy vs typing in the URL. If the camera read a URL with high confidence, people would still not check it. Humans are always the weakest link. Do more to protect the human.
- stackedinserter 3y ago
  In that sense human-readable link is more secure that a QR code, because you can at least read that it's "td.com" and not "xxx.win-lottery-get-pussy.tu". There's a chance that people won't even point their cameras at URLs like this. Scroll this page down, someone said they scan every code just out of curiosity.
mistrial9 3y ago
qualified agree -- marketers and worse are abusing the naturally-opaque entrance.. harken back to the days of certain bars being a supply of enslaved crew members via blackjack
Sayrus 3y ago
QR Codes bring a more machine readable format and error correction. QRCode is partially scratched? It can still work. How often will a camera mistake a l and I? Even for scanned books, OCRs make mistakes.
solardev 3y ago
Error correction. Abrading one character in a URL will break it (or make it subject to a MITM attack via lookalike domains or whatever). QR codes are insanely durable and redundant and can survive a lot of wear and tear. It's also a binary works or doesn't, as opposed to a OCR algorithm with probabilistic correctness. And UX. People know what to do about a square barcode (thanks to covid). Nobody is gonna know to take a picture of a URL (they can in fact already do that and have it OCRed on many phones, but who knew?)
mzs 3y ago
q & g constantly get confused by Apple's image to text

toomuchtodo 3y ago

Politely disagree. They are a durable machine readable means to communicate data. I would argue that when a QR code is read, more tech controls need to be in place to protect users prior to where they're navigating to (show full unrolled URL, big confirm button, check URLs against malware/malicious URL databases). Humans already don't check URLs carefully (email phishing and the efforts to encourage better behavior and awareness around that), they use QR codes because they are easy vs typing in the URL. If the camera read a URL with high confidence, people would still not check it. Humans are always the weakest link. Do more to protect the human.

stackedinserter 3y ago
In that sense human-readable link is more secure that a QR code, because you can at least read that it's "td.com" and not "xxx.win-lottery-get-pussy.tu". There's a chance that people won't even point their cameras at URLs like this. Scroll this page down, someone said they scan every code just out of curiosity.

mistrial9 3y ago

qualified agree -- marketers and worse are abusing the naturally-opaque entrance.. harken back to the days of certain bars being a supply of enslaved crew members via blackjack

Sayrus 3y ago

QR Codes bring a more machine readable format and error correction. QRCode is partially scratched? It can still work. How often will a camera mistake a l and I? Even for scanned books, OCRs make mistakes.

solardev 3y ago

Error correction. Abrading one character in a URL will break it (or make it subject to a MITM attack via lookalike domains or whatever). QR codes are insanely durable and redundant and can survive a lot of wear and tear. It's also a binary works or doesn't, as opposed to a OCR algorithm with probabilistic correctness. And UX. People know what to do about a square barcode (thanks to covid). Nobody is gonna know to take a picture of a URL (they can in fact already do that and have it OCRed on many phones, but who knew?)

mzs 3y ago

q & g constantly get confused by Apple's image to text