QR codes are nothing new, we’ve seen them around since 1994. Initially created for use in the automotive industry, their versatile potential is seeing use in more and more fields and technologies. Augmented Reality, QR code payment, loyalty programmes, marketing campaigns, you name it. While QR codes provide numerous benefits in the aforementioned areas (moving away from plastic loyalty cards reduces costs and plastic waste), where they truly shine is online authentication or, in simpler terms, identification or login to online services.
QR codes and online security
QR-code login is not only more convenient, it is much more secure. Over the past years there has been a lot of stories in the news where people have been exposed to fraudsters, where they have been asked to enter their username and login to their bank using their eID. The fraudsters claim they are from the bank, but in fact they are sitting in front of a computer and has already entered the username. As soon as the victim confirms with his eID, the fraudster is let into the account.
With QR-code login, this setup is made impossible. If the service you are logging into offers QR-code login only you can access the account from the very same computer where the QR-code is presented.
Apart from security, QR code login brings a much-needed lifeline to users who are drowning in passwords. So much so that many resort to reusing the same password over and over (highly unsafe) or scribbling them down on pieces of paper or in password books, keychains, password managers, password buckets and the list goes on. When these methods inevitably fail in one way or another, it’s time to reset the forgotten password to something they will surely remember this time around and begin the cycle anew.
In QR code login, you don’t need to type in your password, personal identity number, email etc. When you wish to access something, you just need to have your phone, scan and approve. Best of all, you are not risking any of your sensitive data by typing it into web forms.
Freja eID also supports QR code identification – with an added bonus
If you’ve read the text so far, then you probably have a solid grasp on how QR code login functions. That is the user experience you can expect if you are accessing services on your desktop/laptop etc. However, as mobile devices have become better there has been a huge shift to people simply doing everything on their smartphones. Which raises the question: how do you scan a QR code on your phone with your phone?
Worry not, you don’t need a separate phone, nor will you be forced to do everything from your computer. Believe it or not, QR code identification works even better if you are accessing services from your mobile device. Without getting too technical, the QR code is processed in the background and bound to your device at the moment of identification. So you don’t even need to scan the QR code on your mobile device, just tap on the login button. And yes, this sacrifices none of the security that is inherent to QR code identification.
Give it a try on My Pages or identify yourself to some of the services connected to Freja eID such as, Studentkortet, Boplats Sverige or Svenska Spel. We are working with all our partners to encourage them to support QR code identification wherever they can, because the increased security benefits them as well – lowering both the number of password resets and potential security breaches.
