Teams Hides External QR Codes to Foil Phishing Attacks

Microsoft Teams is gearing up to enhance user safety by introducing a new feature that will help mitigate QR code phishing attacks. The feature, currently in development, will automatically hide QR codes sent from external users and require users to reveal them before viewing or scanning.

This change aims to encourage more deliberate interaction with QR code content and reduce the risk of phishing and fraud. According to NordVPN, 73% of Americans scan QR codes without verifying the destination, and over 26 million users have been redirected to malicious websites.

The feature is expected to roll out in October 2026 for Android, desktop, iOS, and Mac devices. Microsoft hopes that this change will help users be more cautious when interacting with QR codes from unknown sources.