The infamous Louvre heist has taken an unexpected turn, not just for the audacity of the theft but for the sheer simplicity of one of its alleged vulnerabilities. Following the robbery of priceless crown jewels from the Paris museum, a security audit has revealed that the password to the museum’s video surveillance system was, unbelievably, “Louvre.” The revelation, first reported by Libération and highlighted by PCGamer, has sparked widespread disbelief among cybersecurity experts and the public alike. What was initially thought to be a daring, cinematic heist may instead have been aided by outdated systems and shockingly weak digital security.
The French national cybersecurity agency had flagged these concerns long ago. A 2014 audit warned of “serious shortcomings,” noting the insecure password and obsolete software that hadn’t been supported by its developer for years. Subsequent inspections found similar vulnerabilities, including easy rooftop access during construction phases—an open invitation for anyone determined enough to try. The reliance on technology nearly as old as the museum’s artifacts didn’t help either; some of the security infrastructure reportedly dated back more than two decades, making it dangerously easy to exploit.
The heist itself unfolded in less than ten minutes. Around 9:30 a.m. on a Sunday, four thieves used a truck-mounted mechanical ladder to enter the museum through the second floor. Armed with power tools, they quickly broke into the gallery, seized the jewels, and escaped into the streets of Paris before authorities could react. Though guards and visitors were threatened, no injuries were reported. Authorities have since charged four suspects, but the jewels—worth tens of millions of dollars—remain missing.
For the Louvre, this isn’t the first time its security has been under scrutiny. The museum famously lost the Mona Lisa in 1911 and experienced its last major theft in 1998. However, this latest incident underscores a modern vulnerability: that even the world’s most celebrated institutions can fall prey not only to physical intrusion but to digital negligence. While arrests have been made, the museum now faces renewed questions about how such a preventable flaw could persist for over a decade.
