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Exploiting the Error Correction Mechanism in QR Codes for Secret Sharing

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Information Security and Privacy (ACISP 2016)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNSC,volume 9722))

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Abstract

This paper investigates a novel approach to secret sharing using QR codes. The proposed QR code secret sharing approach exploits the error correction mechanism inherent in the QR code structure, to distribute and encode information about a secret message in a number of shares. Each share in the scheme is constructed from a cover QR code, and each share itself is a valid QR code which can be scanned and decoded by a QR code reader. The secret message can be recovered by combining the information contained in the QR code shares. Since each share is a valid QR code, the proposed scheme has the advantage of reducing the likelihood of attracting the attention of potential attackers. In addition, the shares can be distributed via public channels without raising suspicion. Moreover, shares do not have to be stored or transmitted electronically, as QR codes can be distributed via printed media.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For a comprehensive description of the QR code structure and error correction mechanism, please refer to the ISO standard (ISO/IEC18004) [13].

  2. 2.

    In practice, it is not advisable to introduce this much error in the QR code shares, because any damage or dirt may make the QR code symbol undecodable.

  3. 3.

    Please note that all QR codes presented in this paper are valid QR codes that can be decoded by a QR code reader.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Computer and Information Security Research, School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia

    Yang-Wai Chow, Willy Susilo & Guomin Yang

  2. Department of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    James G. Phillips

  3. School of Design, Communication and Information Technology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia

    Ilung Pranata

  4. School of Computing, Telkom University, Bandung, Indonesia

    Ari Moesriami Barmawi

Authors
  1. Yang-Wai Chow
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  2. Willy Susilo
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  3. Guomin Yang
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  4. James G. Phillips
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  5. Ilung Pranata
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  6. Ari Moesriami Barmawi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yang-Wai Chow .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Joseph K. Liu

  2. Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Ron Steinfeld

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Chow, YW., Susilo, W., Yang, G., Phillips, J.G., Pranata, I., Barmawi, A.M. (2016). Exploiting the Error Correction Mechanism in QR Codes for Secret Sharing. In: Liu, J., Steinfeld, R. (eds) Information Security and Privacy. ACISP 2016. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9722. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40253-6_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40253-6_25

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40252-9

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