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When thieves stole $100 million in jewels from the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, France, they shocked the art world and revealed a serious digital weakness. French media reports say the museum once used its own name, Louvre, as a password for its surveillance system.
That detail may sound unbelievable, yet it highlights how often people still rely on weak passwords even in high-security places that should know better.
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Thieves reportedly stole more than $100 million in jewels from the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, exposing surprising gaps in security. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Louvre password security flaws revealed in investigator’s audit
A decade-old French cybersecurity audit reportedly showed troubling gaps in the museum’s defenses. The Louvre is said to have once run outdated Windows Server 2003 software and had unguarded rooftop access, something eerily similar to how the recent thieves used an electric ladder to reach a balcony.
The biggest mistake? Using “Louvre” and “Thales” as passwords. One of them was even said to be visible on the login screen. That was like leaving the keys under the doormat of the world’s most famous museum.
CyberGuy reached out to the Louvre for comment, but did not receive a response before our deadline.
LOUVRE DIRECTOR GRILLED ON SPECTACULAR SECURITY FAILURES, INCLUDING CAMERA POINTING AWAY FROM KEY BALCONY
And while the Louvre may have tightened security since then, experts warn that password habits like these are still widespread among businesses and individuals.
Why Louvre’s weak passwords matter for your online security
You might not have priceless jewels to protect, but your personal data, financial info and digital identity are just as valuable to hackers. With the holiday shopping season here, cybercriminals ramp up their attacks, knowing millions of you are logging in, buying online and often reusing old passwords.
How to create stronger passwords
Reports revealed the museum once used simple passwords like “Louvre” and “Thales,” raising serious cybersecurity concerns. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: A PARIS JEWEL HEIST STRAIGHT OUT OF THE MOVIES
Protecting yourself online doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow these tips to boost your defenses:
- Avoid using your name or anything easily guessed.
- Mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
- Change passwords if a company you use reports a data breach.
- Skip sticky notes or digital files with unencrypted passwords.
LOUVRE HEIST IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AMID APPARENT SECURITY LAPSES PUTS GLOBAL MUSEUMS ON ALERT
Think beyond your phone or laptop. Your Wi-Fi router, smart home devices and even security cameras all have passwords that need attention.
Stay safe with a password manager
If keeping up with dozens of unique passwords sounds overwhelming, a password manager can help. These tools generate strong, unique, complex passwords for every account and store them securely in one encrypted vault. This reduces the risk of password reuse. Many password managers also alert you to compromised passwords or sites hit by data leaks.
LOUVRE HEIST ADDS TO HISTORY OF HIGH-PROFILE MUSEUM BREACHES, LEAVES OTHER GALLERIES ON EDGE
Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.
Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com
Cybersecurity experts say everyone should strengthen passwords and consider using a password manager to stay protected online. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)
Kurt’s key takeaways
The Louvre’s massive heist shows that even the most respected institutions can make simple cybersecurity mistakes. You can learn from their example by strengthening your own passwords and taking digital safety seriously. Start by creating unique, complex passwords for every account and consider using a password manager to keep them secure and organized. A few minutes of effort today can protect you from financial loss, identity theft or worse.
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