QR Codes

QR Codes are a powerful tool.

A QR code is a graphical representation of data a machine can read.

Most modern up-dated phones allow you to use the Camera App to detect and open the contents of a QR Code.

How to Scan

  1. Open the Camera App

  2. Frame the QR Code, making sure it’s big enough, there’s no glare or distortions. Once your phone is able to focus on and clearly read the QR Code, depending on your phone, it will show a…

    • Pop-up

    • Notification

    • Special QR Code Icon

  3. Review Before Clicking. The pop-up or notification should give you a summary of the QR Code contents. Do a quick sanity check to make sure the code looks safe.

  4. Click to Activate the QR Code.

Easy Button For…

With the click of a button, a QR Code can

  • Open a web page

  • Compose a new email

  • Contain a hidden message

  • Download Apps to your phone

  • Trigger a Phone call

  • Instruct your phone to connect to a Wi-Fi

  • Add a new contact information to you address book

  • Compose a new text message to a number specified in the QR Code

Is this Code Safe?

Lake Ballinger Center uses QR.io to generate QR Codes. We validate that each QR code does exactly what we expect it to do.

However, you should remain vigilant any time you see a QR code you want to scan.

Before scanning, look at the physical QR code in front of you:

  • Do you trust the source?

  • Does this QR Code look tampered with?
    For example, did someone put a fake QR code over the official QR code?

Review before tapping:

Review the pop-up / notification and make sure the link is related to the place or person the QR code came from.

DO NOT tap on links that look strange or have weird words and symbols.

Now you can scan QR codes with confidence!