Is this QR code safe? Check the link before you open it
Paste the link or add a picture of the code. The result shows its sources and its time.
Paste the link from a QR code, or add a picture of the code and the page reads the link for you. We follow the link through its redirects, compare every address with threat lists and look for signs of phishing. The result names what was checked and when. A clean result means no known threats were found at that time. Pages can change, so check again before you print.
How the check works
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Add the link
Paste the address, or choose a picture of the QR code. The picture is read in your browser and only the link inside it is sent to the check.
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We follow it
Our server requests the link the way a browser would and follows up to 10 redirects. Addresses that point to private networks or local names are refused.
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Read the result
You see one of four results, the sources asked, the number of redirects followed and the time of the check.
What the result does and does not tell you
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Sources
Each address in the redirect chain is compared with threat lists for malware and phishing. Every result lists the sources asked and what each one answered.
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Signs of phishing
We also look at the page itself: login forms that imitate a known brand, card fields, downloads of programs, link shorteners in a chain and newly seen domains.
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A moment in time
A page can change after the check, so every result carries its time and says what was found, never that a link is safe.
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Limits
To keep the tool available for everyone, each visitor can run 10 checks an hour. After 3 checks a day a short human check may be asked for.
Questions and answers
Why do you never say a QR code is safe?
A check only knows what the threat lists and our own tests know at that moment. A clean result says no known threats were found as of the time shown.
What should I do if the result shows warning signs?
Do not enter passwords, card details or personal data on the page. If the code was on a printed sticker over another code, remove or report it. If the code belongs to a business, tell the business.
Is the QR code itself dangerous?
No. A QR code is only a way to write down text, usually a web address. The risk is in where the address leads, which is why the check looks at the destination.
Do you keep the links I check?
We keep the result for a link for up to 24 hours so that repeated checks are quick. The picture you choose never leaves your device.
Can I scan the code with my camera first?
Yes. The QR code scanner reads a code in your browser, shows the link as text and offers a button that brings it here for the check.
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oqrely is not affiliated with any service listed here.
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