The Rise of Malicious QR Codes and Image-Based Phishing Tactics in Cybersecurity

Cybercriminals constantly adapt their methods to bypass security measures and steal sensitive information. Recently, malicious QR codes combined with image-based phishing emails have emerged as a powerful tool to capture employee credentials quickly and quietly. These tactics exploit weaknesses in traditional email security systems and prey on users’ trust, making them a growing threat in cybersecurity.

Smartphone scanning a malicious QR code on paper

How Malicious QR Codes Work

QR codes are everywhere—from menus to advertisements—because they offer a quick way to access websites or information. Unfortunately, attackers have found ways to weaponize QR codes by embedding malicious URLs that lead victims to phishing sites. When an employee scans such a QR code, they are redirected to a fake login page designed to steal their credentials.

What makes this attack especially dangerous is the use of URL parameters that include the recipient’s email address. This personalization tricks victims into believing the site is legitimate because it already “knows” their information. The phishing page feels familiar and trustworthy, increasing the chance that users will enter their usernames and passwords without suspicion.

For example, a malicious QR code might direct a user to a URL.

This domain is often a newly created redirector that forwards users to another phishing site, making it harder for security teams to track and block the threat quickly.

Why Image-Based Phishing Emails Bypass Secure Email Gateways

Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) are designed to detect phishing attempts by scanning email text for suspicious keywords, links, or attachments. However, attackers have found a way to evade these defenses by embedding phishing messages inside images attached to emails.

These emails contain no visible text in the body. Instead, the entire message is a screenshot or image file with the phishing content. Most email clients automatically display these images, so recipients see the message as if it were normal text. Since there are no clickable links or attachments, the email feels safe and legitimate.

This tactic bypasses SEGs because these systems rely on scanning text, not images. Without text to analyze, the phishing email goes undetected. Only advanced security solutions that use optical character recognition (OCR) combined with artificial intelligence can extract text from images and identify these threats.

Email client displaying image-based phishing message

The Role of Advanced Security Technologies

To combat these evolving threats, organizations need to adopt email security solutions that go beyond traditional SEGs. Technologies that combine OCR and AI can analyze images in emails, extract embedded text, and detect phishing patterns that would otherwise be missed.

For example, the security company Streamline's new scanning system demonstrated how it decoded a malicious QR code embedded in an image-based phishing email. By analyzing the QR code, we traced the phishing URL and uncovered the redirect chain leading to credential theft sites. This level of analysis helps security teams respond faster and block attacks before employees fall victim.

Organizations should also educate employees about the risks of scanning unknown QR codes and encourage vigilance when receiving emails with unusual attachments or images.

Practical Steps to Protect Against These Threats

• Use advanced email security tools that include OCR and AI to detect image-based phishing.

• Train employees to recognize suspicious QR codes and avoid scanning codes from unknown sources.

• Verify URLs carefully when redirected from QR codes, especially if the site asks for login credentials.

• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the impact of stolen credentials.

• Monitor newly registered domains that may be used in phishing campaigns and block suspicious ones proactively.

  
  

Cybersecurity analyst tracking phishing threats on computer screens

Final Thoughts on Emerging Phishing Techniques

As cybercriminals continue evolving their tactics, the combination of malicious QR codes and image‑based phishing represents a new frontier in social engineering—one that exploits both human behavior and blind spots in outdated security tools. Defending against these threats requires more than traditional filtering; it demands modern detection capabilities, continuous employee awareness, and proactive monitoring. Organizations that adapt quickly will dramatically reduce their exposure to credential‑theft attacks and strengthen their overall security posture.

Closing Action Stop Phishing Tactics in Cybersecurity

Now is the time to review your organization’s email and endpoint security stack. Ensure that your defenses include OCR‑enabled scanning, AI‑driven phishing detection, and automated QR code analysis. Pair these technologies with regular cybersecurity training and a zero‑trust approach to unexpected prompts for credentials. By taking these steps today, you can stay ahead of emerging attack methods and safeguard your team from the next wave of phishing threats. Phishing Tactics in Cybersecurity

Reach out to Streamline Networks to protect your IT assets with Total Security Services.