A recent survey by SW Research, commissioned by Bank Pocztowy, reveals a growing mistrust among Poles toward e-banking and general web browsing, highlighting increasing cybersecurity concerns. Despite a 7% drop in confidence compared to last year, internet banking still stands as the safest online activity according to respondents.
Poles continue to place the highest level of trust in online banking, but the study underscores a notable shift in their attitudes. While 79% previously considered it secure, confidence in online shopping now follows closely at 72%. Web browsing, once viewed as relatively safe, saw a significant 10-point decline, with only 67% of respondents feeling confident in its security—a clear indication of mounting fears over malicious online threats.
The study sheds light on a generational divide in perceived online safety. Among those aged 40 and above, online shopping is regarded as the safest online activity, while other responses remain fairly consistent across age groups. Notably, the lowest trust levels were associated with phone conversations and SMS exchanges with unknown contacts—activities deemed secure by only 35% and 27% of respondents, respectively.
Elżbieta Chicińska from Bank Pocztowy attributes the decreased trust in e-banking and browsing to the sophistication of modern cyber scams, which adapt to users’ habits. “Although awareness is increasing, the number of attacks continues to rise, combining social engineering with advanced technical methods,” Chicińska noted, underlining the evolving tactics employed by cybercriminals.
Poles are particularly familiar with the notorious “grandchild scam,” with 89% aware of this fraud technique across generations. However, less common scams, such as the “cheap religious pilgrimage fraud,” are known to only 17% of respondents. Awareness gaps also appear in scams related to selling on OLX—familiar to 54% of those over 40, but only to 38% of seniors over 60. Knowledge of “hacker message” scams is also limited, recognized by 36% of respondents on average, although awareness declines significantly in older demographics.
Conducted as part of the “Cyberdojrzali. Bądź mądrzejszy od oszusta” (Cyberwise. Be Smarter than the Scammer) program, the survey involved 1,018 interviews, with 501 among individuals aged 60+ and 517 with their children aged 40+. Bank Pocztowy’s initiative aims to promote cybersecurity education, empowering individuals to navigate financial spaces securely and responsibly.