Louvre's $100 million heist exposes surprising password safety flaws

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When thieves stole $100 million in jewels from the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, France , they shocked the artwork world and revealed a critical digital weak point. French media studies say the museum as soon as used its personal identify, Louvre, as a password for its surveillance system.

That element could sound unbelievable, but it highlights how typically individuals nonetheless depend on weak passwords even in high-security locations that ought to know higher.

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Thieves reportedly stole greater than $100 million in jewels from the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, exposing shocking gaps in safety. (AP Picture/Thibault Camus)

Louvre password safety flaws revealed in investigator's audit A decade-old French cybersecurity audit reportedly confirmed troubling gaps within the museum's defenses. The Louvre is claimed to have as soon as ran outdated Home windows Server 2003 software program and had unguarded rooftop entry, one thing eerily just like how the current thieves used an electrical ladder to achieve a balcony.

The largest mistake? Utilizing "Louvre" and "Thales" as passwords. Considered one of them was even mentioned to be seen on the login display. That was like leaving the keys below the doormat of the world's most well-known museum.

CyberGuy reached out to the Louvre for remark, however didn't obtain a response earlier than our deadline.

LOUVRE DIRECTOR GRILLED ON SPECTACULAR SECURITY FAILURES, INCLUDING CAMERA POINTING AWAY FROM KEY BALCONY

And whereas the Louvre could have tightened safety since then, specialists warn that password habits like these are nonetheless widespread amongst companies and people.

Why Louvre's weak passwords matter in your on-line safety You may not have priceless jewels to guard, however your private information, monetary information and digital identification are simply as helpful to hackers. With the holiday shopping season right here, cybercriminals ramp up their attacks , figuring out thousands and thousands of you might be logging in, shopping for on-line and sometimes reusing outdated passwords.

Learn how to create stronger passwords Stories revealed the museum as soon as used easy passwords like "Louvre" and "Thales," elevating critical cybersecurity issues. (AP Picture/Thomas Padilla)

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: A PARIS JEWEL HEIST STRAIGHT OUT OF THE MOVIES

Defending your self on-line would not must be difficult. Comply with these tricks to enhance your defenses:

Keep away from utilizing your identify or something simply guessed. Combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Change passwords if an organization you employ studies an information breach. Skip sticky notes or digital information with unencrypted passwords. LOUVRE HEIST IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AMID APPARENT SECURITY LAPSES PUTS GLOBAL MUSEUMS ON ALERT

Assume past your cellphone or laptop computer. Your Wi-Fi router , sensible residence units and even security cameras all have passwords that want consideration.

Keep secure with a password supervisor If maintaining with dozens of distinctive passwords sounds overwhelming, a password supervisor may also help. These instruments generate robust, distinctive, complicated passwords for each account and retailer them securely in a single encrypted vault. This reduces the danger of password reuse. Many password managers additionally provide you with a warning to compromised passwords or websites hit by information leaks.

LOUVRE HEIST ADDS TO HISTORY OF HIGH-PROFILE MUSEUM BREACHES, LEAVES OTHER GALLERIES ON EDGE

Subsequent, see in case your email has been exposed in previous breaches. Our #1 password supervisor (see Cyberguy.com ) choose features a built-in breach scanner that checks whether or not your e mail tackle or passwords have appeared in recognized leaks. If you happen to uncover a match, instantly change any reused passwords and safe these accounts with new, distinctive credentials.

Try one of the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com

Cybersecurity specialists say everybody ought to strengthen passwords and think about using a password supervisor to remain protected on-line. (Picture by Neil Godwin/Future through Getty Pictures)

Kurt's key takeaways The Louvre's massive heist reveals that even probably the most revered establishments could make easy cybersecurity errors. You possibly can study from their instance by strengthening your individual passwords and taking digital security significantly. Begin by creating distinctive, complicated passwords for each account and think about using a password supervisor to maintain them safe and arranged. A couple of minutes of effort at present can shield you from monetary loss, identification theft or worse.

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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of know-how, gear and devices that make life higher along with his contributions for Fox Information & FOX Enterprise starting mornings on "FOX & Associates." Bought a tech query? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy E-newsletter, share your voice, a narrative concept or remark at CyberGuy.com.