Secure QR Code (SQRC®) from DENSO Offers More Security!
Germany has to deal with lots of Corona regulations – but the Secure QR Code (SQRC®) from DENSO, member of the Toyota group, could be a decisive factor in fighting the virus.
The Corona pandemic has been the main topic in Germany for more than a year now. New apps like Luca are currently supposed to help better control the infection’s progress. The QR Code is a key element when it comes to these solutions. According to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, the QR Code is also going to play a central role in the digital vaccination pass.
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The QR Code was developed by Masahiro Hara for DENSO WAVE to support the changes in the automotive industry. A barcode with an increased capacity to hold more information was required. In addition to storing and providing more information, QR Codes have the advantage that they are more resistant to dirt and damage than 1D barcodes. Moreover, they are easy to read.
Which Role Does the QR Code Play During the Corona Pandemic?
According to the European Commission, the digital vaccination pass, the so-called Digital Green Certificate, will include a QR Code to ensure security and authenticity of the certificate.
Furthermore, Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference that the digital vaccination pass is supposed to help EU member states restore freedom of movement responsibly and safely. The planned certificates that work with the QR Code are intended to serve as proof of whether an EU citizen has been vaccinated, tested or has recovered from COVID-19 – an important step in the right direction.
But how secure is the QR Code in this context? Does it really make sense to use the classic model of the QR Code, when a more secure version – the Secure QR Code (SQRC®) from DENSO WAVE EUROPE – exists?
Advantages of DENSO’s SQRC® in the Pandemic
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The SQRC® from DENSO can encrypt parts of one’s personal data and thus renders the 2D code more secure. This secure version of the QR Code is already used extensively for ticket bookings, in the health sector for patient tracking, and for product authentication. Hence, it is already tried and tested and it offers numerous advantages that go beyond the vaccination process. For example, with the help of the SQRC® in the vaccination pass, it can get easier to travel again, as well as visiting trade fairs, concerts or sports events.
While common mobile computers can read the public data of the SQRC®, only data collection devices from DENSO can decipher the confidential encrypted data with a special encryption key stored inside the device. Furthermore, DENSO's cloud-based Q-Revo system can make it possible to manage this decryption process for other mobile data collection devices, such as mobile phones.
The European Commission wants to develop a technical platform so that the digital vaccination pass that uses the QR Code can be checked and recognized in all EU countries. However, no personal data is supposed to be stored or exchanged on this platform while verifying the digital vaccination process. In this context, it becomes particularly clear how important the advantages of the Secure QR Code (SQRC®) from DENSO are: No database is used for the verification process.
Additionally, no server is required for the offline authentication process, so that the SQRC® helps enable a secure and at the same time simple verification. Specifically, this means: With the SQRC® from DENSO, no personal information is stored insecurely on a server. Therefore the risks related to data protection are reduced. Further information on the SQRC® and the secure face recognition is available on the DENSO WAVE EUROPE website.
Successful Implementation of the SQRC®: Match Fit Pass in England
In England, for instance, DENSO WAVE EUROPE partnered up with V Site Pass. The company has implemented the Secure QR Code into their Match Fit Pass app. “We selected DENSO’s SQRC® facial recognition as it provides a two-factor authentication,” explains Michael Dodd, CEO at V Site Pass. “There is no other ticketing application that has this level of security,” he underlines the advantage of DENSO’s innovative SQRC® technology.
The Match Fit Pass application verifies an individual’s identity from a government issued identity document, such as a passport or driving license. The verified image is then encrypted into a Secure QR Code from DENSO. Once this is complete, the individual is issued a unique Match Fit Pass number and the account is ready to record COVID-19 vaccinations, tests, and can also hold different event bookings. The Secure QR Code can also contribute to a possible secure solution in dealing with the coronavirus in Germany.
For the European market, DENSO WAVE EUROPE is the contact point for all enquiries on QR Codes, mobile data collection, handheld terminals, and scanners. The durable and robust terminals and scanners manufactured by DENSO are to be found in storage, logistics, at the POS, in production, and field & sales automation applications.
Short and informative video clips about the terminals, scanners, and solutions from DENSO WAVE EUROPE can now be viewed on YouTube. The clips include the 20th anniversary of the QR Code, a company presentation, and introductions to the various devices for mobile data capture such as the BHT-1500, BHT-1400 and the GT20 scanner.
QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.
