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When thieves stole $100 million worth of jewelry from the world famous Louvre in… Paris, Francethey shocked the art world and exposed a serious digital weakness. According to French media reports, the museum once used its own name – Louvre – as a password for its surveillance system.
This detail may seem incredible, but it shows how often people still rely on weak passwords, even in high-security places that should know better.
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Thieves have reportedly stolen more than $100 million worth of jewelry from the world-famous Louvre museum in Paris, exposing surprising security holes. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Investigator's audit reveals security flaws in Louvre passwords
Ten year old French cybersecurity audit reportedly exposed alarming gaps in the museum's security. The Louvre is said to have once used outdated Windows Server 2003 software and had unguarded access to the roof, much like how recent thieves used an electric ladder to reach the balcony.
Biggest mistake? Using “Louvre” and “Thales” as passwords. They say one of them was even visible on the login screen. It was like leaving the keys under the rug of the world's most famous museum.
CyberGuy reached out to the Louvre for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.
And while the Louvre may have tightened its security measures since then, experts warn that such password habits are still widespread among businesses and individuals.
Why weak Louvre passwords are important for your online security
You may not have priceless jewelry to protect, but your personal data, financial information, and digital identity are just as valuable to hackers. WITH holiday shopping season there are cybercriminals here strengthen your attacksknowing that millions of you log in, shop online, and often reuse old passwords.
How to create stronger passwords
Reports have revealed that the museum once used simple passwords such as “Louvre” and “Thales”, raising serious cybersecurity concerns. (AP Photo/Tomas Padilla)
REPORTER'S NOTE: The Paris Jewel Heist is straight out of the movies
Protecting yourself online doesn't have to be a difficult task. Follow these tips to increase your protection:
- Avoid using your name or anything that is easy to guess.
- Combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
- Change your passwords if the company you use reports a data breach.
- Skip notes or digital files with unencrypted passwords.
Think beyond your phone or laptop. Your Wi-Fi routersmart home devices and even CCTV cameras Everyone has passwords that require attention.
Stay safe with a password manager
If handling dozens of unique passwords seems tedious, a password manager can help. These tools generate strong, unique, and complex passwords for each account and store them securely in one encrypted vault. This reduces the risk of password reuse. Many password managers also warn you about compromised passwords or sites that have suffered data breaches.
Next, check if you have email has been compromised in past violations. Our #1 password manager (see. Cyberguy.com) Pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks to see if your email address or passwords have been involved in known breaches. If you find a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.
Check out the best password managers of 2025, reviewed by experts, at Cyberguy.com
Cybersecurity experts say everyone should strengthen their passwords and consider using a password manager to stay protected online. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)
Kurt's key takeaways
Large-scale robbery of the Louvre 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 security seriously. Start by creating unique, strong passwords for each 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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