I really really hate QR codes.

samantazfox@infosec.exchange

@sundogplanets Here are three unencumbered (and open source) tools that I regularly use:

Web-based one, provided by @Framasoft :
https://omnitools.framatoolbox.org/image-generic/qr-code

Android application:
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.atharok.barcodescanner/

Linux command line (available in most distros packages directly):
https://github.com/fukuchi/libqrencode

mina@berlin.social

@sundogplanets

BTW: I also had a question today, and it was also instantly solved by my bubble.

This is, what the internet was supposed to be. Lovely people helping each other.

paradx@chaos.social

@sundogplanets mr-qr.com has many options and so far just have me out what i put in

quixoticgeek@social.v.st

@sundogplanets I've used the qrencode tool to make qr codes. It's available for Linux and Mac (via homebrew).

tony@toot.hoyle.me.uk

@sundogplanets https://github.com/revk/QR is quite versatile

freci@piaille.fr

@sundogplanets LibreOffice has one built in too.

draeath@infosec.exchange

@sundogplanets @hallvors and to verify it didn't tamper with the URL:

alienghic@timeloop.cafe

@freci @sundogplanets

I was going to mention this too.

And as a bonus. Using LibreOffice means you can avoid Microsoft Copilot 365 app

mad_x@mastodon.social

@sundogplanets there is also an easy qr code generator as an add-on to mozilla firefox

mildpeach@mstdn.social

@sundogplanets
The main problem I have with QR codes is how opaque they are. For any given code:
-Who generated it and is it therefore trustworthy (tw).
-What other sites does the code transit while in use? The generator could be tw but are the cdns used equally tw?
-Is malware, phishing, or data harvesting injected along the transit chain?
-How do you *really* know where your browser is going before you use the qr code?
For me using a qr code in general is asking for id theft.

anne_delong@musician.social

@sundogplanets

There are plenty of good QR code generators. I use
https://www.qr-code-generator.com/

But you are right to be wary - especially when reading QR codes. Make sure that your QR code reader is one that lets you look at the URL first, not one that just loads up automatically. Then you can see that the website being loaded is the one that you are expecting. People have been known to paste fake QR codes over real ones in public places, for example.

phl@mastodon.social

@mildpeach @sundogplanets I feel like the second point onwards could very well be true for any URL you encounter in the wild.

A good QR scanner app will display what it read and lets you choose what to do with that information.

stevenray@sfba.social

@paddi @sundogplanets that’s wild.

jsae@mastodon.social

@sundogplanets

Thank you! I am sad to have missed helping you. (I learned several new options from everyone for when I am in a pinch like you were!)

An option for the list here, a reader-generator combo:

QR Scanner (Privacy Friendly Apps) by the Security Usability and Society research group at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

This is one that pauses to show you the link. It works well paired with the URLCheck app as the default web application.

https://f-droid.org/packages/com.secuso.privacyFriendlyCodeScanner

groxx@hachyderm.io

@phl @mildpeach @sundogplanets yea, just turn off "open immediately" or whatever your setting is

gbargoud@masto.nyc

@sundogplanets

Here is one you can embed an image into by @andrewt

https://www.andrewt.net/dithered-qr-codes/

artnacrea@mastodon.ie

@sundogplanets

I liked this one:

https://justaqrcode.com/

snacktraces@hachyderm.io

@sundogplanets if you are one of those astronomy folks who dabbles in using python on the side, to plot data or ephemeris position stuffs... there are a few libraries for python one can use to create QR codes. No online interaction needed, except to install the library.

rlonstein@social.stonetools.tech

@sundogplanets

https://gchq.github.io/CyberChef/

1. Choose 'Other' on the left.
2. Click "Generate QR Code" and drag it into the "Recipe" box in the middle.
3. Adjust settings if desired.
4. Paste or type your text into the "Input" field on the top right.

That's it. You can even download the page and run it offline since it's all in your browser.

Also, LibreOffice can do it: https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/en-US/text/shared/01/qrcode.html

deborahh@cosocial.ca

@sundogplanets @rayckeith great question, and thanks for sharing the answer!

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I really really hate QR codes.