Since Bitcoin is a currency, you can use it in exactly the same way you use any other electronic money: you open a digital wallet that can be installed on your computer or on your mobile phone and you use this wallet to pay or receive money. This is as safe (or maybe even safer) than any other digital wallet, it uses cryptography with public and private keys and all the yada-yada that guarantees security of all your electronic transactions; for example, for credit card payment or home banking.
If you are a safety geek, I can assure you, I have not ever heard about any fraud that resulted from interception and cracking a transaction secured in this way. Most of the computer crimes are related to breaching credit card storage systems (which simply does not exist in this case) or simply intercepting a user typing or other manipulations on the user's own computer via various malware (this type of interception can only be excluded on the user level by properly securing one's computer).
The advantages of Bitcoin stem from the fact that your transactions do not pass through any central office, bank, etc. The transactions take place between two persons and involve the entire network to approve its validity. No banks mean that the cost of transaction is kept very low. On top of that, your account cannot be frozen, it will not depend on failing banks, bad credit history etc. Opening an account does not require any prerequisites. Just your email address is enough.
