TLS

TLS (Transport Layer Security) is a protocol that encrypts communication over the internet. It developed from its predecessor, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), and the latest version is TLS 1.3. The name "SSL" is still used by custom, but technically SSL is deprecated, and what is actually running is TLS.

TLS provides three security functions. The first is encryption. Even if a third party intercepts the communication, they cannot decipher it. The second is integrity. It verifies that the data has not been tampered with in transit. The third is authentication. It confirms with a certificate that the server being connected to is genuine.

TLS plays an important role in QR code security. When the URL stored in a QR code starts with https://, communication between the browser and the server after the scan is protected by TLS. Conversely, with an http:// URL, TLS is not applied, and the risks of being led to a phishing site and of the communication being eavesdropped on increase. When creating a QR code, you should be sure to check that the link destination supports TLS.