MSNBC reports on the increasing use of QR or "quick response" codes--puzzle-like square matrixes that populate ads and promotional posters to provide smartphone users with product details. Fifteen percent of consumers are using the codes, up from five percent last year. But experts say there are privacy risks involved, including the ability of the app maker to put in tracking systems and the potential for malware to be installed. "Unfortunately, this is a case of buyer beware," says malware researcher Tim Armstrong. "Being that this is a new territory, be suspicious of everything...users should always know what is being installed and when."
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