Is public Wi-Fi safe for online banking?

The numbers tell part of the story. The people behind them tell the rest, and they are usually more interesting.

Keep your PIN and one-time codes to yourself. Support staff never need them, and nobody legitimate will ask.

What experts say

If you only remember one thing from this story, make it this: start small, check the details and do not let anyone rush you.

If you only remember one thing from this story, make it this: start small, check the details and do not let anyone rush you.

What changed

What stands out is how quickly ordinary people adapted, often faster than the companies and offices that serve them.

If you only remember one thing from this story, make it this: start small, check the details and do not let anyone rush you.

Small changes, repeated every day, are what actually last.

Our verdict

There is no single right answer here, but there are clear trade-offs. Knowing them makes the choice easier.

There are still open questions, and we will update this story as we learn more.

Why it matters

Behind the headline is a lot of quiet, repetitive work by people who rarely get credit for it.

Keep your PIN and one-time codes to yourself. Support staff never need them, and nobody legitimate will ask.

Fees are often small enough to ignore, which is exactly why they add up. Check the fee screen before every transfer, not just the first one.

• Set a reminder to review it again in a month.
• Ask someone you trust for a second opinion.
• Talk it over with your family first.
• Write down dates, amounts and reference numbers.
• Read the fine print on fees and limits.

The numbers tell part of the story. The people behind them tell the rest, and they are usually more interesting.