Putting the secure in QR codes
With their versatile data storage formula that can be used across industries, quick response codes – or QR codes as we all know them – are a big hit in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. QR codes enhance traceability in two ways: by delivering information when scanned and by triggering an action to record new data when scanned, such as to capture geolocation information. A great drawback, however, is that they offer no protection against counterfeiting. The SECURE QR CODE project has introduced secure QR codes, or Secure QR Codes, a technology patented by Dutch company Scantrust. Secure QR Codes are similar to standard QR codes in their delivery of information. However, where they differ drastically is with regard to security.
Authentication is key
“If the idea of security is protection against counterfeiting, QR codes alone don’t offer any security feature at all,” comments Scantrust co-founder and CEO Nathan Anderson. “Secure QR Codes take the best features of QR codes and combine that with copy detection or serialisation if that’s required for an application. The difference cannot be overstated!” The Secure QR Code can be affixed to any product, enabling anyone to authenticate the product and trace its origins. It is used on products that are frequently counterfeited, such as motor oils, water filters, collector’s items and automotive components. The Secure QR Code can enable an item that has been copied from a genuine product or genuine product packaging to be detected within seconds just by scanning it. “This principle also works with valuable documents such as vehicle registration documents and licenses,” adds Anderson. The Secure QR Code’s instant copy detection response is a clear benefit for customers who want to check if the item they have paid for is genuine or not. Should a consumer be using counterfeits knowingly, if the product was shipped with secure QR codes, any scans of that item will send an alert and information to the producer. This scalable innovation developed by SECURE QR CODE (Secure Authentication of Products for Everyone) project coordinator Scantrust seamlessly integrates with standard systems and devices widely used by businesses in production and distribution, such as smartphones, enterprise resource planning systems and standard printers for packaging. “In Europe, there is an opportunity to standardise anti-counterfeit measures so that more products have this feature, not just a few. From lost tax revenue to the issue of health hazards and the possibility for malfunction, all of society will be seeing a positive result from the wider use of Scantrust secure QR codes,” concludes Anderson. If you are interested in having your project featured as a ‘Project of the Month’ in an upcoming issue, please send us an email to editorial@cordis.europa.eu and tell us why!
Keywords
SECURE QR CODE, counterfeit, QR code, product, security, copy detection