Product authentication with QR codes is convenient, but lacks security

Veracity Protocol can verify product’s authenticity with 99.9% accuracy — without tags, chips, or markers

Veracity Protocol
3 min readNov 3, 2020

You can find QR codes everywhere — from a bottle of wine to a new set of tires. QR (Quick Response) codes are a type of matrix barcode that contains information about the item to which it is attached. They are often used for coupons, mobile payments, social media, smart transportation, product verification, and even ID authentication. It’s estimated that 11M households will scan a QR Code in 2020 in the USA alone.

QR codes are convenient, but they can be easily copied.

QR codes are convenient for product identification, as they can be easily scanned with a smartphone and offer consumers a way to identify their purchases. The problem? An overall lack of security, as they can be easily copied. Another concern that QR codes carry is their inability to detect tampering during the supply chain. Basing its barcode from the introductory surface image provides an opportunity for products to be tampered with or damaged with no changes to the QR codes themselves. Thus, QR codes cannot reliably authenticate items.

QR Code statistics usage by country — Global and US. Source: https://blog.beaconstac.com/2019/12/qr-code-statistics/

Additionally, the shape and nature of the product can restrict QR codes’ usefulness. Products that have curved sides can deform the code when applied, rendering it unusable. Furthermore, if products are too small, they may not have the real estate to fit a QR code, as is the case with collectible items where authenticity is truly important.

Veracity Protocol identifies products with 99.9% accuracy using just a smartphone camera.

Veracity Protocol has addressed these shortcomings and offers a solution for product identification and security. It enables any camera to create a tamper-proof Physical Code™ based on an item’s material structure. This secures its authenticity, identity, and security — without special hardware, embedded tags, chips, or markers. Consumers are able to easily identify products using just a smartphone camera. Veracity Protocol’s technology has 99.9% accuracy with real-world applicability and works in various light conditions, angles, and on many materials. Due to its non-invasive nature, it can be seamlessly integrated into any production line.

Veracity Protocol’s technology enables any camera to create a tamper-proof Physical Code™ based on an item’s material structure. This secures its authenticity, identity, and security — without special hardware, embedded tags, chips, or markers. Learn more here: https://www.veracityprotocol.org/

If a company insists on using QR codes, our solution can even work in tandem with them. Layering both technologies give companies the opportunity to get the best of both worlds and provide a more robust identification and authentication system. To replace your QR codes — or to augment their security — reach out at hello@veracityprotocol.org.

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Veracity Protocol is an award-winning startup that builds a Vision AI Standard to protect people and products in the digital world. The standard guarantees the highest level of trust and security for verifying the identity, authenticity, and integrity of physical objects using a smartphone.

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Veracity Protocol

The Standard of Trust for Physical Objects • Protect anything with Vision AI / #traceability #trust #authentication #protection #security