We… noticed an uptick in people trying to socially engineer users into scanning QR codes in an attempt to trick them into logging into another device that they don’t control. “We recently reduced the validity window of the QR code from 10 minutes to 2 minutes,” said one Discord engineer, who added: As we wait to hear back, staff weighed in on a Reddit discussion thread, noting that the QR code login window had been reduced, in an effort to thwart any would-be scammers. However, after releasing a proof of concept to demonstrate the apparent ease of exploitation, Twitch partner Pirate Software said that if the user was a Nitro subscriber, an attacker could gain access to their name, address, and unobfuscated PayPal email address.ĭiscord did not immediately respond to our request for comment. For some users, having their accounts compromised may result in little more than frustration – although it’s unlikely that anyone would be happy with someone being able to impersonate them online.

Opinion is split over the potential severity of this exploit. “The login-by-QR method works without any username/password and 2FA, and while it makes Discord way more convenient to log into everywhere, it unfortunately is being exploited in the form of fake Nitro gifts (and possibly other forms),” said one Discord user.ĭiscussion of the QR code login exploit has taken place on various Discord servers

In scanning the code, however, users inadvertently provide the attacker with access to their account. While this feature is aimed at simplifying the Discord login process for desktop users, news has surfaced that fraudsters have been exploiting the system in an effort to gain unauthorized access to accounts.Īccording to discussions on various Discord servers and on social media, scammers have been posting QR codes with the promise of free Nitro, the platform’s subscription package that offers numerous perks, and other giveaways. In December, developers at Discord – a voice and text chat app widely used by the gaming community – announced the launch of a QR code feature that enables users to log into the desktop web client using their phone, by scanning the code that appears on-screen. Login window reduced to two minutes, but is this enough to combat fraudsters?ĭiscord has made some changes to its QR code login system following reports that the mechanism is being abused by scammers trying to gain access to users’ accounts.

Discord app login