Daegu Catholic University ‘Mijeong’ Team Wins 5th Future and Software Contest with Real-Time Cushion Detection Solution
Daegu Catholic University Team Wins Software Contest with QR Code Security Solution
Table of Contents
- Daegu Catholic University Team Wins Software Contest with QR Code Security Solution
- Daegu Catholic University Team: Fighting “Quishing” with Innovative QR Code Security
- What is “Quishing” and Why Should I be concerned?
- How prevalent is “Quishing”?
- What is “Trust QR”?
- How Does “Trust QR” Work?
- Who Developed “Trust QR”?
- What Tools and Technologies Were Used to Build “Trust QR”?
- What Were the Key Takeaways from the 5th Future and Software Contest?
- Who Sponsored the Contest?
- What Were the Awards Given at the contest?
- What Are the Future Plans for ”Trust QR”?
- Were There Other Phishing Prevention Solutions Presented at the Contest?
A team of computer engineering students from Daegu Catholic University has won the grand prize at the 5th Future and software Idea Contest for their innovative solution to combat “quishing,” a growing threat involving malicious QR codes.
Rising “Quishing” Threat Spurs Innovation
The winning team, named Mijung, developed a real-time QR code detection system called “Trust QR” to address the increasing use of QR codes in phishing attacks. These attacks, known as “quishing,” exploit the inability of many email security systems to analyze images or QR code content, making them an effective method for distributing malware or directing users to fraudulent websites.
According to Forbes and Fast Company, criminals are increasingly embedding QR codes in emails and on bogus websites to bypass traditional security measures. The Anti-Phishing Working Group reported a surge in phishing attacks,with 877,536 incidents in the second quarter of 2024,many leveraging QR codes to steal login details and financial information.
“Trust QR” Solution Details
The Mijung team, comprised of Lee Ji-won, Ona-hee, and Lee Si-eon, developed a system that performs QR code safety tests, detects and blocks malicious QR codes, and provides accurate threat detection using machine learning models. Their solution also includes a “quishing” tutorial to educate users about the risks.
The team utilized Auto ML to automate the machine learning and deep learning model development process, including pretreatment, modeling, evaluation, and deployment.The system was developed using Python and Android app development tools.
Lee Ji-won, the team leader, stated that expert mentoring during the contest was invaluable. “Through this, we could check the part we missed and clarified the development direction,” Lee said.
Contest Details and Other Winners
The 5th Future and Software Contest for College Students,hosted by Future,Software,and ETEDu,focused on ‘information Security SW Web and App Development.’ Ciswon and Eduplus sponsored the event.A total of 609 students in 204 teams participated, proposing ideas on topics such as mobile information security, personal information protection, artificial intelligence (AI), deep fakes, and industrial security.
Lee Sang-hoon, director of software, opened the awards ceremony held at Ciswon headquarters on april 19. Lee Joo-yong, chairman of KCC Information and Communication, was recognized as a pioneer who first introduced computers to Korea.
The Excellence Prize was awarded to the AEICE team (Go Eun-bi, Kim Ji-sun) and the ‘SDCARD’ team (Kim Sung-jun, kim ji-hwan, and Kim Yu-hwan). The ‘MESA’ team (Oh Min-yong, Jung Eun-seo) and ‘Shield’ team (Kim Bum-soo, Cho Hyun-ho, Kim Tae-jung) received Encouragement Awards.
Future Plans for “Trust QR”
Mijung plans to upgrade the machine learning model and combine it with other security solutions to expand the service. They also intend to create a profit model through targeted and compensation advertisements.
Another team, Fishing Keeper from sungshin Women’s University, also presented a phishing prevention solution. Choi Young-young, head of the Fishing Keeper team, said they focused on creating a solution that is easy and convenient to use.
The grand prize included 5 million won and a high-end laptop. Winners of the Excellence Prize received 3 million won and a high-end monitor. The Encouragement Prize was 1.5 million won per team.
Daegu Catholic University Team: Fighting “Quishing” with Innovative QR Code Security
What is “Quishing” and Why Should I be concerned?
“Quishing” is a type of phishing attack that uses malicious QR codes to trick people into downloading malware or providing sensitive information. The article states that, “Quishing, exploit the inability of many email security systems to analyze images or QR code content, making them an effective method for distributing malware or directing users to fraudulent websites.”
How prevalent is “Quishing”?
“Quishing” is a growing threat. According to the source material, the Anti-Phishing Working Group reported a notable surge in phishing attacks, with 877,536 incidents in the second quarter of 2024, many of which utilized QR codes to steal login credentials and financial data.
What is “Trust QR”?
“Trust QR” is a real-time QR code detection system developed by the Mijung team,a computer engineering team from Daegu Catholic University. It’s designed to identify and block malicious QR codes before they can cause harm, thus protecting against “quishing” attacks.
How Does “Trust QR” Work?
“Trust QR” performs QR code safety tests and uses machine learning models to detect and block malicious QR codes, providing accurate threat detection. The solution also includes a “quishing” tutorial to educate users about the risks. The team utilized Auto ML to automate the machine learning and deep learning model development process, including pretreatment, modeling, evaluation, and deployment.
Who Developed “Trust QR”?
The “Trust QR” system was developed by the Mijung team,comprised of:
Lee Ji-won (Team Leader)
Ona-hee
Lee Si-eon
What Tools and Technologies Were Used to Build “Trust QR”?
The system was developed using Python and android app development tools. The team also utilized Auto ML to automate the machine learning and deep learning model development process.
What Were the Key Takeaways from the 5th Future and Software Contest?
The 5th Future and Software Contest for College Students focused on “information Security SW Web and App Development”. The contest, hosted by Future, Software, and ETEDu, saw 609 students in 204 teams participating. The students proposed ideas on topics such as:
Mobile information security
Personal information protection
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Deep fakes
Industrial security
Who Sponsored the Contest?
Ciswon and Eduplus sponsored the 5th Future and Software Contest for College Students.
What Were the Awards Given at the contest?
the contest awarded several groups for their accomplishments. Here is a summary:
| Award Category | Winners | Prize |
| :——————– | :—————————————– | :——————————————————- |
| Grand Prize | Mijung team | 5 million won and a high-end laptop |
| Excellence Prize | AEICE team, ‘SDCARD’ team | 3 million won and a high-end monitor |
| Encouragement Prize | ’MESA’ team, ‘Shield’ team | 1.5 million won per team |
What Are the Future Plans for ”Trust QR”?
Mijung plans to:
Upgrade the machine learning model.
Combine it with other security solutions to expand the service.
* Create a profit model through targeted and compensation advertisements.
Were There Other Phishing Prevention Solutions Presented at the Contest?
Yes, another team, Fishing Keeper from sungshin Women’s university, also presented a phishing prevention solution.