NSFW Detection and QR Code Reading
Today we’re launching two new features that enhance urlscan.io’s content analysis capabilities: NSFW content detection and QR code reading for screenshots. These features mark the first of multiple ways we will analyze and enrich the content of websites and scan results, providing deeper insights into the nature and behavior of scanned content.
NSFW Content Detection
Website scans performed on urlscan.io are now automatically annotated with the
new visual.nsfw label, based on the classification of our NSFW AI system. In
this context, NSFW refers to nudity or pornography detected within screenshot
content.
This automated classification helps users identify potentially inappropriate content before viewing scan results, enhancing workplace safety and content moderation workflows.
Enhanced Display Controls
The Website Scans Search has gained a new option to automatically blur screenshots of scans labeled with the visual.nsfw or content.mature label. This feature can be controlled via the new Display Options dropdown, giving users granular control over how potentially sensitive content is displayed.
New NSFW filtering options in the Display Options dropdown
Blurred screenshots for NSFW-labeled content in search results
QR Code Reading for Screenshots
Starting July 14, 2025, we automatically detect QR codes in screenshots of website scans. When QR codes are detected, any links to third-party websites encoded within them are extracted and added to the list of regular links on the page.
This capability addresses a common technique used to break the analysis chain and make automated analysis more difficult. QR codes are frequently employed in malicious campaigns to obfuscate destination URLs and evade detection systems. By parsing these codes, we can continue processing links even when they are encoded as QR codes, maintaining the integrity of our analysis pipeline.
QR codes detected and highlighted in website screenshot
URLs extracted from QR codes appear in the Links section with QR Code labels
Automated Link Extraction
When QR codes containing URLs are detected, these links are automatically extracted and processed as if they were regular hyperlinks on the page. This ensures that malicious actors cannot use QR codes to hide their true destinations from analysis.
New System Labels
The system automatically applies relevant labels to scans containing NSFW content or QR codes:
visual.qrcode: Applied to any scan containing a QR code in its screenshotvisual.qrcode.url: Applied to scans containing QR codes that encode URLsvisual.nsfw: Applied to scans containing NSFW imagery (nudity)visual.person: Applied to scans where the screenshot is depicting a person
These system labels can be used for hunting and filtering on the urlscan Pro platform.
Availability
Both NSFW content detection and QR code reading are available today for all urlscan.io users. The features work automatically on all new scans, with urlscan Pro system labels applied where appropriate to help users identify and filter relevant content.
More on urlscan Pro
If you want to learn about the urlscan Pro platform and how it might be valuable for your organization feel free to reach out to us! We offer free trials with no strings attached. We would be happy to give you a passionate demo of what our platform can do for you. Reach out to us at sales@urlscan.io.