There are plenty of ways to scan QR codes on a laptop, but you may not realize how easy it is to do with a little help from software or apps.

They make life easier by letting you access links, download files, or make payments with just a quick scan. But what if the QR code you need to scan is on your phone itself?

The trouble is, with QR codes, you may not be able to tell the difference between a malicious code and a legitimate one until you've scanned it. But there are a few ways you can avoid fakes.