Surge in QR code phishing highlights evolving threats to Irish organisations

Surge in QR code phishing highlights evolving threats to Irish organisations

The number of QR code phishing attacks increased 146% in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from Microsoft’s threat intelligence team. Attackers are bypassing traditional e-mail filters using this technique by embedding malicious links in QR images in PDF attachments, accounting for 70% of QR phishing by March. Globally, Microsoft detected 8.3 billion e-mail-based [… The post Surge in QR code phishing highlights evolving threats to Iri…

Microsoft reveals record surge in QR code phishing highlights evolving threats to Irish organisations

New data from Microsoft’s threat intelligence team shows that email phishing attacks are accelerating worldwide as attackers adopt increasingly stealthy techniques to evade detection. These trends present growing risks for Irish organisations and their employees, many of whom remain under-prepared as tactics rapidly evolve. The key findings include: 8.3 billion – Microsoft detected 8.3 billion email-based phishing attempts globally in Q1 2026, r…