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

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

Sense of security

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 are afraid of

Concerns relate mainly to money. 48% of Poles fear losing funds, and 34% fear someone taking out a loan or other financial commitment in their name. 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. 93% of participants know about the threat posed by suspicious phone calls, and 91% recognise fake emails and text messages. 87% identify attempts to extract a Blik code or online banking details.

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

Knowledge versus practice

The authors of the survey pointed to a gap between knowledge of threats and everyday habits. Half of respondents say they only use websites they know, and the same proportion (50%) use antivirus software. 38% use different passwords for different services, and 36% keep their operating system, antivirus and apps up to date. 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 people living in Poland, and the available description gives no data on Poles living abroad.