For the uninitiated, Coinbase — a cryptocurrency exchange — ran a 60 second spot that featured a QR code bouncing around in a way reminiscent of old DVD screensavers. It was a roaring success.

QR (Quick Response) codes are everywhere these days. You'll spot them on restaurant menus, business cards, product packages, and even concert tickets. A big reason they've caught on is convenience.

Quishing is proving effective, too, with millions of people unknowingly opening malicious websites. In fact, 73% of Americans admit to scanning QR codes without checking if the source is legitimate.

QR codes that were once seen as a convenient shortcut for checking menus or paying bills have increasingly been turned into weapons. Fake delivery texts, counterfeit payment links and malicious codes ...