October was European Cybersecurity Month. The Warsaw Institute of Banking Foundation, under the patronage of the Polish Bank Association, commissioned the survey “Poles’ attitudes towards cybersecurity 2024”.
The fascinating results are presented in the “Cybersecure wallet” report[1]. Below we briefly discuss three findings and encourage you to read the full report.
Using mobile banking
First, more than half of respondents said they used banking services on a smartphone or tablet through a mobile app (57%). Logging into online banking on a computer was reported by 30%, while only 7% used services at a physical branch.
Given technological developments, the popularity of mobile payments should come as no surprise. Earlier research by the Cashless Poland Foundation had already shown a significant change in payment habits in recent years. While cash was still Poland’s dominant payment instrument in 2018, by 2023 almost two-thirds of all transactions at retail and service outlets were cashless[2].
Biometrics and AI assistants
Second, the survey shows that Poles are open to more advanced payment authorisation: 43% expressed willingness to verify payments using biometric methods, such as fingerprints or voice samples. Interestingly, respondents were distrustful of artificial intelligence as a virtual assistant. Nearly half knew it existed but did not use it, and only 22% used it to expand their knowledge of electronic banking security.
Phishing and fraud protection
Third, the WIB survey shows that Poles consider phishing—impersonating another institution or person—the greatest digital threat. Respondents were most concerned that this fraud would steal their data (60%) and money (52%). Phishing can occur by telephone as well as online. Unfortunately, only 28% of Poles in such a situation verify a purported employee’s identity by calling the bank or using its app.
The report presents ten basic principles for staying safe online and using electronic banking. Some seem obvious, but it is worth checking whether we actually follow all of them: antivirus software on smartphones as well as computers, passwords of sufficient length, and two-factor authentication of transactions.
Cybersecurity is also the subject of a nationwide Polish Bank Association information campaign. Its “Don’t help yourself get robbed” adverts draw attention to protecting personal and financial data from online fraudsters. The timing is no coincidence: the highest number of cyberattacks occurs towards year-end. Amid Christmas shopping and Black Friday, let us remember to use electronic banking wisely.
[1] Cybersecure wallet 2024 report (PDF, in Polish).
[2] Payment habits and the development of Poland’s card acceptance network, Polasik Research 2023 (PDF, in Polish).
