上周，一位正在为Windows 10使用最新的 Insider (Windows 10)Preview 版本(Preview build)的用户发现，微软(Microsoft)正在测试一个新的蓝屏(Blue Screen)死机(Death)( BSOD )，其中包括一个QR 码(QR code)，该码会根据生成屏幕的错误进行调整。QR 码(QR code)旨在帮助用户获取有关其 Windows 10 设备崩溃的原因以及他们(Windows 10)可以采取哪些措施来解决问题的信息。从理论上讲，这听起来是个好主意，但我们也需要考虑一些可能的副作用。这就是为什么在众所周知的蓝屏(Blue Screen)中包含二维码的原因(QR code)死亡(Death)可能不是一个好主意：
背景：二维码即将出现在Windows 10 蓝屏(Blue Screen)死机(Death)( BSOD )中
微软(Microsoft)尚未正式说明这一可能即将推出的功能，但正如一位reddit 用户所发现(reddit user has discovered)的那样，Windows 10的最新测试版本(test build)包括 QR 矩阵型条形码，作为一种将用户指向有关问题所在的正确信息的方式他们的计算机和设备。使用移动设备扫描二维码(QR code)的用户将被带到一个网页，其中包含有关他们所面临问题的更多信息。从理论上讲，这将帮助用户了解正在发生的事情并更快地解决他们的问题。
如果开发过程一切顺利并且微软(development process and Microsoft)决定保留此功能，它将在今年夏天向所有Windows 10用户免费推出的Windows 10 周年更新中提供。(Anniversary Update)
以下是在BSOD(BSODs)中包含 QR 码的简单决定如何变得糟糕：
1. 将通过二维码增加移动恶意软件的分布(mobile malware)
恶意软件(Malware)使用越来越聪明的各种分发方法(distribution method)。虽然尚未受到恶意软件创建者的欢迎，但 QR 码也是一种分发恶意软件的方法，而微软将在其(Microsoft)蓝屏(Blue Screen)死机(Death)中包含 QR 码的事实将增加这种分发方法(distribution method)的流行度。
到目前为止，二维码还没有被移动用户广泛使用。据Visualead 称(Visualead)，2014 年，只有 15% 的智能设备拥有者使用他们的设备扫描二维码。从那以后，没有关于移动用户使用二维码的新数据，所以我们预计它不会增长很多。如果这项技术的使用发生了有意义的变化，那么肯定有人会写一些东西。由于这种相对较低的使用率(usage rate)，恶意软件创建者并没有很大的动机使用二维码作为流行的恶意软件分发方法(malware distribution method)。但是，我希望这会改变！
随着微软(Microsoft)决定在Windows最知名的屏幕之一——蓝屏死机(Blue Screen)中包含(Death)QR(QR code)码，更多的人将熟悉QR 码(QR code)的概念，更多的人将定期使用QR 码扫描仪。(QR code)如今，Windows 10拥有 2 亿用户，微软(Microsoft)一直在大声疾呼其目标是在推出的头两年达到 10 亿台设备。这是一个非常庞大的人群，由于BSOD(BSODs)中包含QR 码，许多人将第一次使用(QR code)QR 码(QR code)扫描仪。
2. 它可以使Windows 10用户面临新的安全威胁
恶意软件(Malware)创建者可以轻松创建模拟蓝屏(Blue Screen)死机(Death)并包含恶意二维码的Windows 恶意软件。(Windows malware)通过使用 QR 码，恶意软件创建者可以执行以下操作：
- 引导用户在他们的移动设备上下载恶意软件，这将感染他们的设备
- 将用户引导至可能试图窃取其个人数据以换取其 Windows 10 设备问题的“解决方案”的网络钓鱼网站
- 为人们订阅不需要的服务或垃圾邮件列表
- 以非常昂贵的价格发送高级(Send premium)短信 ( SMS )，以便用户与虚假支持服务取得联系，这将有助于解决他们的 Windows 10“问题”
可能的威胁列表可能会变得更大，因为只有恶意软件创建者的想象力是他们通过使用恶意 QR 码所能做的事情的限制。
3. 它提供了一种制作坏笑话的新方法
虽然前两个原因相当严重，但第三个原因更幽默。每个人都(Everyone)在朋友、家人或同事的电脑上开玩笑。想象一下，您可以使用带有QR 码的(QR code)BSOD 壁纸(BSOD wallpaper)玩恶作剧，将用户带到一些狡猾的网站、“护送”服务或其他一些不合适的位置。
你怎么看？
在您关闭本文之前，请不要犹豫，分享您对这个主题的看法：您认为在蓝屏(Blue Screen)死机(Death)中包含 QR 码是个好主意吗？积极因素是否大于可能的消极因素？你的观点是什么？
3 Reasons why including QR codes in Windows 10 BSODs is a bad idea
Last week, a user who was fiddling with the latest Insider Previеw build for Windows 10 diѕcovered that Microsoft is testing a new Blue Screen of Death (ΒSOD) whіch includes a QR code that adjusts depending on the error that generated the screen. The QR code іs supposed to help users get information about why their Windows 10 deνice has crashed and what they can do to fix things. In theory, this soundѕ like a great idea but there are also some possible sidе effects that we need to consider. Here's why including a QR code in the well known Blue Screen of Death mаy not be such a great idea:
The context: QR codes are coming to the Windows 10 Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
Microsoft hasn't yet said anything officially about this possibly upcoming feature but, as one reddit user has discovered , the latest test build for Windows 10 includes QR matrix-type barcodes as a way of pointing users to the right information about what went wrong on their computers and devices. Users who scan the QR code with their mobile devices are taken to a web page with more information about the problem that they are facing. In theory, this will help users understand what is going on and solve their problems faster.
If everything goes well with the development process and Microsoft decides to keep this feature, it will be made available in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update that will be rolled out this summer, for free, to all Windows 10 users.
Here's how this simple decision of including QR codes in BSODs can turn bad:
1. It will increase the distribution of mobile malware through QR codes
Malware uses all kinds of distribution methods that get smarter each day. While not yet very popular with malware creators, QR codes are also a method of distributing malware and the fact that Microsoft will include QR codes in their Blue Screen of Death, will increase the popularity of this distribution method.
So far, QR codes are not so widely used by mobile users. According to Visualead , in 2014, only 15% of smart device owners were using their devices to scan QR codes. Since then, there's no new data about the use of QR codes by mobile users so we don't expect it to have grown a lot. Somebody would have surely written something if the use of this technology had changed in a meaningful way. As a result of this relatively low usage rate, malware creators did not have a huge incentive to use QR codes as a popular malware distribution method. However, I expect this to change!
With Microsoft deciding to include QR codes in one of the most well known screens of Windows - the Blue Screen of Death - more people will be familiar with the QR code concept and more people will use QR code scanners on a regular basis. Today, Windows 10 has 200 million users and Microsoft has been vocal about its goal of reaching 1 billion devices in its first two years of availability. That's a very large population and many people will use QR code scanners for the first time as a result of QR codes being included in BSODs .
2. It can expose Windows 10 users to new security threats
Malware creators will have no trouble creating Windows malware that simulates the Blue Screen of Death and includes malicious QR codes. Through the use of QR codes, malware creators can do things like:
- Direct users to download malware on their mobile devices which will infect their devices
- Direct users to phishing websites that could try to steal their personal data in exchange for "solutions" to their problems with their Windows 10 device(s)
- Subscribe people to unwanted services or spam mailing lists
- Send premium text messages (SMS) with very expensive rates, so that users get in touch with fake support services that will help in solving their Windows 10 "problems"
The list of possible threats can get larger as only the imagination of malware creators is the limit to what they can do through the use of malicious QR codes.
3. It offers a new way of making bad jokes
While the first two reasons are rather serious, the third one is on the more humorous side of things. Everyone plays jokes on the computers of their friends, family members or coworkers. Imagine the pranks that you can play using a BSOD wallpaper with a QR code that takes the user to some dodgy website, to an "escort" service or some other inappropriate location.
What do you think?
Before you close this article, don't hesitate to share your view on this subject: Do you consider the inclusion of QR codes in the Blue Screen of Death a good idea? Do the positives outweigh the possible negatives? What is your perspective?
