QR Code Security via Blockchain Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

QR codes are vulnerable to malicious hacking, leading to potential data misappropriation and security breaches, as users often trust and scan them without verification, and existing technologies lack effective measures for securing these codes.

Innovation Solution

A system combining a public blockchain, public key encryption, and a redirection mechanism to provide two-factor authentication and reputation recording for QR codes, prompting users to verify the trustworthiness of URLs and checking against blockchain verification data to ensure secure access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users scan QR codes without verification, then scanning speed and ease of operation are improved, but security and reliability deteriorate due to vulnerability to malicious hacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of scanningVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification actions before allowing QR code scanning. A prompt is displayed asking users to verify whether they trust the URL, and the system checks the QR code key against blockchain verification data before permitting access. This preliminary security check prevents malicious hacking while maintaining ease of use for trusted codes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If QR codes are made secure with verification mechanisms, then security and reliability are improved, but device complexity and operational steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidverification mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary verification layer between the QR code scanning and URL access. A prompt mechanism serves as the intermediary, displaying trust verification questions and showing reputation values from blockchain verification. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall complexity by providing a single, clear verification step that users can easily understand and respond to.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If blockchain verification is implemented for QR codes, then security and trustworthiness are improved, but processing time and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetrustworthinessVSAvoidverification time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical verification processes with blockchain-based cryptographic verification. The QR code key is checked against verification data stored on the blockchain, which provides tamper-proof verification. This substitution maintains high security while optimizing verification speed through efficient blockchain data retrieval and comparison operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12200151B2Systems and methods for providing security for QR codes

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing additional security for quick response (QR) codes are provided. An additional layer of security for QR codes, a mechanism to record the reputation of the payload in a QR code, and other functionality are provided. A combination of a public blockchain system, public key encryption, and a redirection mechanism can be used.