{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,13]],"date-time":"2026-05-13T17:34:43Z","timestamp":1778693683290,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,16]],"date-time":"2022-02-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1644969600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Entropy"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In present times, barcode decoders on mobile phones can extract the data content of QR codes. However, this convenience raises concerns about security issues when using QR codes to transmit confidential information, such as e-tickets, coupons, and other private data. Moreover, current secret hiding techniques are unsuitable for QR code applications since QR codes are module-oriented, which is different from the pixel-oriented hiding manner. In this article, we propose an algorithm to conceal confidential information by changing the modules of the QR Code. This new scheme designs the triple module groups based on the concept of the error correction capability. Additionally, this manner can conceal two secret bits by changing only one module, and the amount of hidden confidential information can be twice the original amount. As a result, the ordinary data content (such as URL) can be extracted correctly from the generated QR code by any barcode decoders, which does not affect the readability of scanning. Furthermore, only authorized users with the secret key can further extract the concealed confidential information. This designed scheme can provide secure and reliable applications for the QR system.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/e24020284","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,16]],"date-time":"2022-02-16T20:26:41Z","timestamp":1645043201000},"page":"284","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["A Confidential QR Code Approach with Higher Information Privacy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"24","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8809-1063","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pei-Yu","family":"Lin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 807618, Taiwan"},{"name":"Department of Information Communication, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan 320315, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Wen-Shao","family":"Lan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Information Communication, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan 320315, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yi-Hui","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Information Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333323, Taiwan"},{"name":"Kawasaki Disease Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833401, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Wen-Chuan","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Ilan University, Yilan 260007, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2022, January 15). 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