Social Engineering the Golfer?

If you’re a golfer, you might want to be careful about picking up random golf balls on the course. You never know what might be lurking on them. In this blog post, I’ll tell you about a new social engineering attack that uses QR codes printed on found golf balls to trick unsuspecting golfers into giving away their personal information.

QR codes are those square-shaped barcodes that you can scan with your smartphone to access a website, app, or other online services. They’re convenient and easy to use, but they can also be used for malicious purposes. For example, a hacker could print a QR code that leads to a phishing site, a malware download, or a fake login page.

Now imagine that you’re playing golf and you find a golf ball with a QR code on it. You might be curious and scan it with your phone, thinking that it might be part of some promotion or game. But instead of getting something fun or useful, you get malware installed on your phone or redirected to a site that asks for your name, email, phone number, or even your credit card details. If you enter any of this information, you could become a victim of identity theft, fraud, or other cybercrimes.

How can you avoid falling for this scam? Here are some tips:

– Don’t scan QR codes that you don’t trust or recognize. If you find a golf ball with a QR code on it, leave it alone, chip it in a lake, or throw it away.

– Use a QR code scanner app that has security features, such as checking the URL before opening it or warning you about suspicious links.

– Be wary of any website that asks for your personal or financial information. Always check the URL and look for signs of legitimacy, such as HTTPS encryption and a padlock icon in the address bar.

– If you think you’ve been scammed by a QR code on a golf ball or any other source, report it to the authorities and monitor your accounts for any unusual activity.

Social engineering is a technique that hackers use to manipulate people into doing what they want. It can happen anywhere, even on a golf course. Don’t let your guard down and don’t let your curiosity get the better of you. Stay safe and enjoy your game!