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Why does that QR Code go to justinsomnia.org?

justinsomnia.org

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Re: Why does that QR Code go to justinsomnia.org?

#31

Post by Hoff »

sp332 wrote: post #14
sirclueless wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You just scanned an unreadable symbol. It could already send you anywhere. Vetting URLs by whether they look like they point at a redirect script seems like overkill.

Oh, actually I've never used a QR code reader that didn't show me the URL before letting me decide whether to go there.

Consider what can be done with a punycode'd URL here, too.

Mix a QR with a little punycode and you easily can end up anywhere, even if you do (quickly) review the URL before the jump.

Re: Why does that QR Code go to justinsomnia.org?

#32

Post by dholowiski »

karterk wrote: post #25
dholowiski wrote: post #20

We use QR codes extensively where I work. We use them in print ads and on TV commercials and I have a re-occurring nightmare that we'll use the 'wrong' QR code somewhere disastrous... like printing a link to our competitors on 10,000 brochures or something like that. I insist that I check all QR codes before they're sent out, and I scan them with 2-3 different QR scanning apps. As another commentor mentioned, I often…

Very curious - are they actually effective? Do people use them? What's the "click-through" rate like?

They are not very effective... yet. At this point the 'click through' rate is a fraction of a percent. The reason we're doing it is so that we will be prepared - the day that Android or IOS includes a QR code reader built into the OS (it will happen) usage will go through the roof.

Re: Why does that QR Code go to justinsomnia.org?

#33

Post by gerggerg »

gerggerg wrote: post #24

QR codes are a massive phishing scam waiting to happen. I'll just go cover up the one at my bank with a sticker of the same exact size that links to my own site that looks exactly like the bank's site. Or maybe I'll put one on the ATM and see how long I get traffic before someone takes it down.

Though they do pose an interesting avenue for protest/civil disobedience. I could easily post QR codes on fast food restaurants that go to PETA or on the back of bus seats that link to pages about transportation system corruption.

Or perhaps what would be even more fun, is I could put download links for movies on their own posters.

Re: Why does that QR Code go to justinsomnia.org?

#34

Post by phillmv »

gerggerg wrote: post #33
gerggerg wrote: post #24

QR codes are a massive phishing scam waiting to happen. I'll just go cover up the one at my bank with a sticker of the same exact size that links to my own site that looks exactly like the bank's site. Or maybe I'll put one on the ATM and see how long I get traffic before someone takes it down.

Though they do pose an interesting avenue for protest/civil disobedience. I could easily post QR codes on fast food restaurants that go to PETA or on the back of bus seats that link to pages about transportation system corruption. Or perhaps what would be even more fun, is I could put download links for movies on their own posters.

Yeah… if only anyone actually used qr codes.

Re: Why does that QR Code go to justinsomnia.org?

#35

Post by pak »

This only supports my long running contention that normal people (outside of Japan) do not understand QR codes, and wherever they are printed, you would be better off writing a short URL. They are 1) opaque, 2) ugly, 3) impossible to memorize, 4) confusing to non techies and 5) no faster than typing the URL for the majority of viewers.

Re: Why does that QR Code go to justinsomnia.org?

#37

Post by magic_haze »

dholowiski wrote: post #32
karterk wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very curious - are they actually effective? Do people use them? What's the "click-through" rate like?

They are not very effective... yet. At this point the 'click through' rate is a fraction of a percent. The reason we're doing it is so that we will be prepared - the day that Android or IOS includes a QR code reader built into the OS (it will happen) usage will go through the roof.

WP7 has them built in, and I agree, it _is_ rather convenient. But as other commentators mentioned, it is a phishing disaster waiting to happen because the UI doesn't display the full URL if it gets too long.

Re: Why does that QR Code go to justinsomnia.org?

#38

Post by dangrossman »

dholowiski wrote: post #20

We use QR codes extensively where I work. We use them in print ads and on TV commercials and I have a re-occurring nightmare that we'll use the 'wrong' QR code somewhere disastrous... like printing a link to our competitors on 10,000 brochures or something like that. I insist that I check all QR codes before they're sent out, and I scan them with 2-3 different QR scanning apps. As another commentor mentioned, I often…

In TV commercials? Is the expectation that people will grab their phone, turn it on, launch a scanner app and run to their TV before the commercial ends?

Re: Why does that QR Code go to justinsomnia.org?

#40

Post by mgcross »

sp332 wrote: post #7
eliaskg wrote: post #6

I made the experience that it's never a good idea to point a QR code to a fixed domain. Always create a little redirect app where you can define later on what target the link should point on. So for example point the link to http://mysite.com/qr where you have a little redirection-php file that you can edit at all time.

As a user, that would really annoy me. I like to know where I'm going before I put a URL in my browser.

It's very common to use shortened URLs to decrease the complexity and size of the resulting code. I don't think most users scanning codes are any more concerned than they are clicking on a shortened twitter link.
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