Gadgetory

no doubt you've seen the design that little boxy code maybe you've even scanned one those funky little squares called QR codes short for quick response it's a hyperlink that takes you and your smartphone from a magazine or street sign to a web page so here's how it works your smartphone takes a picture of the code and then responds to an embedded link that takes you to a new location some were on the web just exactly where those hidden lines of code are taking you you really don't know a worst-case scenario is you install piece of software on your phone that does a variety of things one anything that you send is an email or you type into your phone is then transmitted to the hacker it's become the go-to gadget for marketing especially in real estate it's very inexpensive to implement and has a high potential return on that low investment and about 75% of retailers now offer customers this 2d technology according to a recent study some companies are setting up secure data centers to prevent hackers from infecting QR codes but is the public really all that concerned no I don't and I don't want I think I'm also afraid of let's link to my phone and what kind of information that company will get from the scanning their short code gives you information about products and businesses or companies and I mean it is kind of scary the technology so like fast but I think it's kind of cool whether you've used a QR code link or not these are the things to keep in mind before you give it a go if you see a random sticker on the side of a street don't scan it if you see something on a random door don't just scan it you know it don't don't play with strangers while there have been no reported cases of QR code hack attacks according to the US government it's not a matter of if but when in San Francisco Jonas tishnar cnet.com for CBS News you