Pekao survey: Poles know about scams but rarely use basic safeguards

Almost half of Poles feel safe online, yet many admit that they could become the victim of a cyberattack. This comes from a survey prepared by Pekao, reported by the PAP news agency on 18 October 2026.

Sense of security

Some 47% of respondents feel safe online, while 15% say they do not. At the same time, 40% think they could fall victim to a cyberattack, and 16% rule out the possibility. Generation Z has the strongest sense of security – 55% of them say they feel safe online.

What we fear

Concerns are mainly about money. Some 48% of Poles fear losing funds, and 34% fear someone taking out a loan or other financial commitment using their details. Some 28% of respondents fear their device being infected with a virus, and 25% fear losing data.

Knowledge of threats

Awareness of typical scams is high. The threat posed by suspicious phone calls is known to 93% of participants, and 91% recognise fake emails and text messages. Some 87% identify attempts to obtain a Blik code or online banking details.

The picture is worse for less obvious threats. A QR code leading to a fake website is recognised as a risk by 65% of respondents, and attempts to overload a server by 55%.

Knowledge versus practice

The authors of the survey pointed out the gap between knowledge of threats and everyday habits. Half of respondents say they only use websites they know, and the same share (50%) use antivirus software. Some 38% use different passwords for individual services, and 36% keep their operating system, antivirus software and apps up to date. Some 22% of respondents back up important files.

About the survey

The survey was carried out using the CAWI method (an online questionnaire) on a sample of 1,000 people aged 18–70. It covered residents of Poland, and the available description gives no data on Poles living abroad.