The Louvre robbery proves we still don't know how to create passwords: tips to avoid the same mistake

The Louvre, a global symbol of art and culture, is back in the news after the unprecedented robbery that rocked it on October 19. An audit has revealed that the museum's video surveillance network used passwords as basic as 'LOUVRE' or 'THALES' (the name of the software that protected it).

Not only that: the operating system of their security infrastructures was Windows Server 2003, software that has lacked security updates since 2015 .

Furthermore, the Parisian museum had outdated programs: eight computer programs dedicated to monitoring the facilities, including Thales, which did not receive any kind of support .

Police have already arrested seven people in connection with the theft of French Crown Jewels from the Louvre museum, but have not yet been able to find the loot, valued at 88 million euros .

The news about the digital audit has set off alarm bells. The fact that the security of an institution with priceless works is so weak has highlighted a problem that remains commonplace: we still don't know how to create secure passwords .

If the Louvre falls, what will happen to your accounts?

It seems unthinkable that one of the most heavily guarded museums in the world would have protected its system with such an obvious password. But it reflects what millions of users do every day: use easy passwords, reuse them across multiple platforms, and never forget to change them .

The Louvre case demonstrates that even large institutions underestimate the importance of good password management . However, as Sancho Lerena, CEO of Pandora FMS and a security expert, points out, “attacking a museum's IT infrastructure can be easier than that of a company, because the investment in cybersecurity and management is usually lower.” He adds, “There also typically isn't a team dedicated 24/7 to this area.”

The problem, this expert emphasizes, is that “ museums manage financial data about their clients, but also much more private data such as purchases and transactions related to art.” Lerena points out that this represents a vast amount of information “of incalculable value.”

The problem isn't the hackers, it's us.

Although we might think that cybercriminals only target governments or large companies, the truth is that a weak password is an open invitation.

And you don't have to go far: passwords like '123456', 'password' or the user's own name (which would be the same as in the case of the Louvre) continue to be among the most used every year .

Cybersecurity experts insist that a strong password depends not on memory, but on the method . That's why they recommend:

These are basic tips, but most security professionals agree that following them could prevent 90 percent of brute-force attacks or credential theft.

When a password puts an entire institution at risk

The Louvre case is not isolated . Data provided by Pandora confirms that the Grand Palais Rêmi, which manages major French museums, was the victim of ransomware that paralyzed its systems. In the US, museums such as the Rubin Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston also suffered data breaches due to vulnerabilities in their management software .

If it happens in world-renowned institutions, the risk to ordinary users is obvious : a single weak password can jeopardize your entire digital life.

The good news is that protecting yourself doesn't require technical knowledge or money, just a little attention .