Detecting phishing of a matrix barcode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9344450-B2
Application number	US-201414446020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2014
Priority date	Sep 24, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A method and a system for detecting phishing of a matrix barcode is provided. The matrix barcode comprises colored and white squares in rows and columns. The method comprises scanning the matrix barcode row by row and column by column resulting in received squares, storing a corresponding white color level for each received white square, and comparing the white color levels of the received white squares couple-wise.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for detecting phishing of a matrix barcode comprising colored and white squares in rows and columns, the method comprising:
scanning the matrix barcode row by row and column by column resulting in received squares;
after the scanning the matrix barcode, compensating shading on the matrix barcode by applying a dynamic multiplier to color levels of each received square, wherein the dynamic multiplier is proportional to an intensity of shade on the matrix barcode;
storing a corresponding white color level for each received white square; and
comparing the white color levels of the received white squares couple-wise to determine differences therebetween that are used to detect the phishing of the matrix barcode.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing a counter if the white color levels comparison of two received white squares of a couple differentiates by more than a predefined threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the matrix barcode is a QR Code.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein storing the corresponding white color level for each received white square comprises:
marking the received white square as white.

5. A method for detecting phishing of a matrix barcode comprising colored and white squares in rows and columns, the method comprising:
scanning the matrix barcode row by row and column by column resulting in received squares;
compensating shading on the matrix barcode by applying a dynamic multiplier to color levels of each received square, wherein the dynamic multiplier is proportional to an intensity of shade on the matrix barcode;
storing a corresponding white color level for each received white square; and
comparing the white color levels of the received white squares couple-wise,
wherein the compensation of shading is performed if a brightness variation of received squares is expressible as a monotone function in one of the directions of the matrix barcode comprising a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, or a diagonal direction, wherein the diagonal direction comprises a direction from a top left corner to a bottom right corner of the matrix barcode, or from a top right corner to a bottom left corner of the matrix barcode.

6. A method for detecting phishing of a matrix barcode comprising colored and white squares in rows and columns, the method comprising:
scanning the matrix barcode row by row and column by column resulting in received squares;
storing a corresponding white color level for each received white square;
comparing the white color levels of the received white squares couple-wise;
increasing a counter if the white color levels comparison of two received white squares of a couple differentiates by more than a predefined threshold; and
after all color level comparison of two white squares have been performed, activating a phishing notifier if the counter is greater than a predefined phishing counter.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein a Web access that corresponds to the matrix barcode is blocked if the phishing notifier is activated.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the blocked Web address is displayed.

9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the blocked Web address is sent to a phishing identification service.

10. A phishing detection unit for detecting phishing of a matrix barcode comprising colored and white squares in rows and columns, the phishing detection unit comprising:
a scanning unit configured to scan the matrix barcode row by row and column by column resulting in received squares;
a storage unit configured to store a corresponding white color level for each received white square; and
a comparison unit configured to, after scanning the matrix barcode, compensate shading on the matrix barcode by applying a dynamic multiplier to color levels of each received square, wherein the dynamic multiplier is proportional to an intensity of shade on the matrix barcode, and to compare white color levels of the received squares couplewise to determine differences therebetween that are used to detect the phishing of the matrix barcode.

11. A computer system comprising a processor, a memory and a phishing detection unit configured to detect phishing of a matrix barcode, wherein the phishing detection unit comprises:
a camera configured to scan the matrix barcode row by row and column by column resulting in received squares;
a storage unit configured to store a corresponding white color level for each received white square; and
a comparison unit configured to, after scanning the matrix barcode, compensate shading on the matrix barcode by applying a dynamic multiplier to color levels of each received square, wherein the dynamic multiplier is proportional to an intensity of shade on the matrix barcode, and to compare white color levels of the received squares couplewise to determine differences therebetween that are used to detect the phishing of the matrix barcode.

12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having stored thereon a computer readable program that is configured to cause a computer to perform a method for detecting phishing of a matrix barcode, when the computer readable program is run on the computer, comprising steps of:
scanning the matrix barcode row by row and column by column resulting in received squares;
after the scanning the matrix barcode, compensating shading on the matrix barcode by applying a dynamic multiplier to color levels of each received square, wherein the dynamic multiplier is proportional to an intensity of shade on the matrix barcode;
storing a corresponding white color level for each received white square; and
comparing the white color levels of the received white squares couple-wise to determine differences therebetween that are used to detect the phishing of the matrix barcode.

Assignees

• Globalfoundries Inc

Inventors

• Di Cocco Antonio
• Lanni Leonardo
• Milanese Nicola
• Pizzutilo Riccardo
• Tortosa Andrea

Classifications

• H04L63/1483 Primary

  service impersonation, e.g. phishing, pharming or web spoofing (detection of rogue wireless access points H04W12/12) · CPC title

• G06F2221/031

  Protect user input by software means · CPC title

• G06K7/1417 Primary

  2D bar codes · CPC title

• G06F21/36 Primary

  by graphic or iconic representation · CPC title

• G06K7/1095

  the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like · CPC title