"You cannot copy, multiply or fake": Russian scientist - about the new domestic QR-code

- Recently the Pro Control company presented an uncopyable QR-code with a two-factor verification system.

What is this QR code and what is its uniqueness?

- This is a QR code that is not physically copied.

That is, when we put a QR code in the printer and receive an additional copy, it is no longer recognized.

No matter how many copies, all of them will not be read.

In other words, this is a standard QR code, the interior of which cannot be copied, duplicated or faked.

For example, if a fraudster wants to make many copies of QR codes and stick them on fake products, then thanks to our QR code it will be possible to understand that this is a fake.

- Why was such a QR code created?

What is the point of a two-factor verification system?

- Our initial goal was to protect against counterfeiting.

This is a headache for the Russian market.

Despite the fact that our country has state markings, we wanted to additionally secure foreign products entering our market.

And we started to develop a special label.

However, the cost of our tag was expensive to mass produce, and we tried to make our technology cheaper.

Instead of 10 rubles, our tags began to cost 5 rubles.

We started to think about how to additionally protect this label so that the graphic image could not be copied.

• Differences between standard and two-factor QR codes

A standard QR code can be copied on a printer and recognized by special programs, for example, on a phone.

It will, accordingly, show some kind of result.

We are checking on two factors.

This is the external and internal QR code.

If they match, then only then can you find out whether it is the original or not.

It turns out that this is two-factor authentication, in contrast to the usual one-factor QR code.

Our inner code looks like a square within a square.

For example, take a regular QR code form and add another one inside.

We came up with our own algorithm for this internal code.

This is also a kind of code, but the cipher of which is stored with us.

A regular QR code can now be created with any generator and a million of such copies can be printed.

Fraudsters can do the same, but the inner part, like our label, they will no longer be able to fake.

• The history of the appearance of uncopyable marks Pro Control

• © Pro Control

- How long did it take to develop the QR code and which companies are using it now?

- Six months.

In March last year, we thought about how to reduce the cost of technology, and closer to winter we began fruitful work.

We took printers and used different technologies.

We analyzed everything and tried to make variants of the QR code.

We had about a thousand all kinds of options before there was one and only one.

Today we have 10 regular clients who work with us every month.

Another 12 corporations want to cooperate with us.

Among them are auto parts manufacturers, woodworking companies, tobacco companies and others.

• How are new QR codes checked?

- How does the QR code check?

What programs have been developed for this?

- We have developed our proprietary mobile application, for iOS and Android, which can be run and tested with our codes.

Among other things, we are now introducing web-interface technology for the phone.

In other words, when a QR code is scanned, another window opens in a web browser with a camera, and additional scanning takes place there.

This is convenient for the mass consumer who does not want to use a mobile application.

First, the external code is checked, if it is correct, then the internal part (uncopyable) is already checked.

If it coincides with the one in our database, then we already receive information about the product (expiration date, its type, manufacturer, etc.).

We can also receive PDF-files or video files, in this case, we are not limited in the size of the embedded information.

We have created a special server to receive data when copying a QR code.

It is almost impossible to access such a server.

If the code does not fit and does not match those in our database, then the label is fake.

• About foreign analogues

- Are analogues of such a

code

- I would like to say that we are unique.

But if you don’t know about a company, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.

Perhaps someone is working in this direction.

Moreover, in the current situation, when everyone knows that there is such a problem of fake QR codes.

I know there is

a Hong Kong company that is working on similar technologies.

But they have a lot of nuances.

First, very advanced phones are needed to read their QR codes.

And their principle is this: there is a white part and a black part of which the QR code consists.

In this white part they have special dots and sticks that only smartphones can recognize.

Moreover, it takes them more than 25 seconds to check the QR code.

- In what areas will the new QR codes be used?

What are the prospects for this development?

- We are entering the CIS market next year.

We have quite a few requests there.

First, we would like to be based on the Russian market, and then offer the QR code to Western companies.

We work with all products with the prefix "auto": auto parts, auto chemicals, auto oils.

Our colleagues who analyzed this market said that for 2020 and 2019, there are about 30% of counterfeit products.

For example, the third spare part or every third bottle of oil is fake, counterfeit.

Accordingly, customers in this market know that products are very actively counterfeited, and therefore are looking for some kind of protection.

• About fakes in the car market

- Will the technology you have developed help in the fight against fake

-

We have not yet launched such a QR code, because there are a lot of nuances.

Even if we introduce new QR codes, what to do with people who have been vaccinated and have already received old ones.

Even if our QR codes will be introduced officially from December 1, this does not mean that fraudsters will not be able to set a different date and issue the old QR code.

First of all, you need to protect yourself from any fraudulent schemes.

Now all the options are being worked out so that no one can deceive the system.