{"id":40872,"date":"2025-11-13T07:28:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T06:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/badania.uew.pl\/?p=40872"},"modified":"2026-01-26T13:17:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T12:17:52","slug":"banks-are-safe-our-habits-decide-cybersecurity-lessons-from-przemyslaw-skulski-associate-professor-at-wueb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/badania.uew.pl\/en\/banks-are-safe-our-habits-decide-cybersecurity-lessons-from-przemyslaw-skulski-associate-professor-at-wueb\/","title":{"rendered":"Banks Are Safe – Our Habits Decide: Cybersecurity Lessons from Przemys\u0142aw Skulski, Associate Professor at WUEB"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

Are we defenceless online? University experts say no. Polish banks follow strict standards, but outcomes depend on our daily choices: what we click, how we log in, and how we pay.\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Banks<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The core question<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Radio Szczecin debate began with a simple prompt: is cyberspace already dangerous – and are we helpless<\/strong>? The reply is balanced. Attacks are more frequent and louder, yet the sector\u2019s safeguards are robust. The weak link is often human behaviour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safer than cash<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Przemys\u0142aw Skulski <\/strong><\/a>(Wroclaw University of Economics and Business) notes we live fully digital lives and too easily forget basic security. Cash has an emergency role, but \u201ca good bank is definitely safer.\u201d<\/strong> System resilience matters; so do our habits.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Pawe\u0142 Rajba (University of Wroc\u0142aw) adds the technical frame: banks operate under tight regulation and invest heavily in security, so direct theft is hard.<\/strong> Criminals therefore target the human-device interface-phishing and social engineering – where a moment of routine can be nudged off course. These are organised, costly operations – not a \u201cpress one button to steal\u201d scenario.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outages vs attacks: what users can (and can\u2019t) see<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell an attack from a fault at first glance (as with recent BLIK issues)? In practice, no. Only log analysis improves certainty, and that takes time. Users should follow procedures instead: don\u2019t force-repeat failed payments, wait for official messages, and watch account activity<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same applies to ATMs. \u201cSpot the overlay\u201d sounds sensible, but high-grade skimming may be invisible. Reduce risk: favour contactless cash withdrawals or BLIK, pick machines in branches or monitored places, cover the keypad, and keep reasonable transaction limits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong passwords, passphrases, and 2FA<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Password hygiene is non-negotiable.<\/strong> The biggest mistake is reusing the same password across services. Use a password manager to store and generate unique credentials. When you must create them yourself, prefer a passphrase-several unrelated words; length is strength. Don\u2019t change passwords on a fixed schedule; change them after a breach or credible suspicion.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add multi-factor authentication everywhere you can. SMS codes or app prompts are standard; a physical U2F\/FIDO key is an extra-strong option for critical accounts. Prof. Skulski also advises splitting funds (current \u2260 savings) and setting transaction limits. You barely notice them day to day – but in an incident they act as a fuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cEverything can be superbly secured, but if a criminal phones us and we hand over codes and passwords-nothing will help.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– prof. Przemys\u0142aw Skulski<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Hybrid warfare and the cost ledger<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The scale is growing, including in hybrid-warfare contexts. As Prof. Skulski stresses, losses are economy-wide – beyond banking to firms and citizens.<\/strong> We need two pillars in parallel: technology (standards, procedures, tools) and common sense (awareness of social engineering, vigilance, and consistent habits).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendations for society and business<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n