You probably already do. Most of us shop online now, and use a debit or credit card to do so. The e-commerce sites that you buy from have to encrypt your financial information to ensure that it is secure. You can tell they are doing this by the padlock symbol in your browser’s address bar.

So when you apply for an online loan, the lender’s website will be secure. They will also have a privacy policy to make sure that your personal details are stored safely and only used when needed.

As more of our life moves online, more measures are being put in place to keep us safe. Financial companies are also subject to regulation from the Finance Conduct Authority, to protect consumers.