Louvre Heist: From ‘Louvre’ as a Password to a Global Lesson in MFA

Posted By Anna on Nov 10, 2025 | 0 comments

On October 19, 2025, the world watched in shock as the Louvre fell victim to a lightning-fast theft. In just a few minutes, masked intruders broke into the Galerie d’Apollon, smashed display cases, and made off with priceless jewels of the French crown — treasures worth around €88 million. By the time the alarm went off, the Louvre heist thieves had already disappeared into the Paris morning, leaving the museum and its staff reeling.

Much of how this happened comes down to one thing: cybersecurity that wasn’t taken seriously. For years, the Louvre hadn’t updated its software, relied on a single, painfully simple password — literally “Louvre” — and didn’t use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on critical systems. Outdated operating systems, poorly monitored networks, and loosely controlled administrative access all created openings that attackers could exploit. In short, the digital side of the museum’s security was easy to bypass, and that weakness made a bold physical robbery possible.

After the heist, Protectimus stepped in and offered the Louvre its MFA services free of charge, ready to help ensure that something like this can’t happen again. Adding multi-factor authentication could have stopped the intruders before they ever got close to the treasures, even if they had the password.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how the Louvre heist unfolded, the cybersecurity gaps it revealed, and the lessons the Louvre and other institutions around the world should learn. We’ll also show how multi-factor authentication could make a real difference and how Protectimus’ solutions can help protect against similar attacks in the future.

1. How the Louvre Heist Happened

October 19, 2025, around 5:30 AM

A group of unknown thieves (likely 3–4 people) arrives at the Louvre in a van equipped with a lift, disguised as maintenance workers. They use the lift to reach a window on the second floor — at the Galerie d’Apollon, where the French crown jewels were displayed, including diamonds and precious stones collected by Louis XIV–XVI.

5:36 – 5:43 AM

The intruders break the window, enter the gallery, smash multiple display cases, and steal eight items valued at over $100 million. Among the stolen treasures are Queen Marie-Therese’s earrings, the “Le Miroir du Roi” diamond, and several ornate brooches. The entire operation takes less than 8 minutes. Security cameras partially capture shadowy movements, but no clear images of the thieves.

Around 6:00 AM

Alarms are triggered with delay, and security arrives after the thieves have already disappeared. Evidence suggests they left via the same route, leaving no DNA or fingerprints behind.

Following Days

Police and the ANSSI cyber unit discover that the museum’s security systems were extremely outdated.
Management acknowledges the existence of structural deficiencies and resigns. France’s Minister of Culture publicly states: “We have underestimated digital security risks for years.”

| Read also: How to Protect Your Business Against Cyber Crime

2. A Decade of Cybersecurity Neglect

For years, the Louvre had been operating with a serious lack of attention to its digital security. Many of its systems were old, unsupported, and vulnerable. Some servers ran on Windows Server 2003 or even Windows XP, leaving them open to known attacks that modern patches would have blocked. Critical systems like video surveillance and access control were protected by extremely weak passwords — literally “LOUVRE” or “THALES” — and had no multi-factor authentication.

Administrative accounts were widely shared, with dozens of employees having access, and passwords were not rotated. Network activity was also barely monitored. Many cameras were offline for maintenance, and the coverage of the galleries was patchy, leaving blind spots that thieves could scout and exploit.

Even when audits flagged these weaknesses years earlier, the museum prioritized exhibitions, acquisitions, and renovations over security upgrades. Plans to modernize the infrastructure were repeatedly delayed, stretching into the late 2020s.

The result was a perfect mix of outdated software, weak passwords, minimal monitoring, and organizational oversights. A situation that made the Louvre heist far easier than it should have been.

In this table, we gathered cybersecurity vulnerabilities that enabled the Louvre robbery:

| Read also: What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

3. The Cybersecurity Lesson: Passwords Alone Are Not Enough

The Louvre heist offers a clear and uncomfortable lesson: relying on passwords alone is no longer enough to protect critical systems. Even a strong password can be guessed, stolen, or reused, and in the case of the Louvre, the passwords were shockingly simple — “LOUVRE” and “THALES”. This left key systems like video surveillance, access control, and internal networks wide open.

Passwords are just one layer of security. Without additional safeguards, anyone who manages to obtain or guess a password can gain immediate access to sensitive systems. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a crucial second layer, requiring something the user has (like a token or phone) in addition to something they know (the password). This way, even if a password is compromised, attackers cannot immediately take control.

The lesson is clear: physical security and cybersecurity are deeply connected. A burglar might not need to hack a system if a weak password allows them to disable alarms or cameras. In today’s world, MFA is not optional! It’s essential, especially for institutions that protect high-value assets.

| Read also: The Pros and Cons of Different Two-Factor Authentication Types and Methods

4. How Two-Factor Authentication Could Have Stopped the Louvre Heist

If the Louvre had used two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA), this robbery could have been much harder, or maybe even impossible.

Even if the thieves knew or guessed weak passwords like “LOUVRE”, MFA would have added a second step to log in, like a code sent to a phone, a special OTP token, or an MFA app. Without that, they couldn’t get into the cameras, alarms, or network.

That means, even with a stolen password, the thieves couldn’t turn off cameras, stop alarms, or mess with the systems. MFA acts like an extra lock, keeping digital systems safe and stopping cyber problems from causing real-world thefts.

For museums and other places with valuable items, MFA isn’t just a tech upgrade; it’s a must-have part of keeping everything safe, both online and in real life.

| Read also: 5 Steps to Prepare your Business for Multifactor Authentication

5. Protectimus’ Proposal

After the Louvre heist, Protectimus stepped forward to offer its help. As a provider of multi-factor authentication (MFA) solutions, we proposed to secure the museum’s critical digital systems for free, helping to prevent future attacks like this one.

By implementing MFA, we can make sure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive systems, even if passwords are stolen or guessed. This protects surveillance cameras, alarm controls, and internal networks — all the systems that, in the Louvre’s case, were exploited during the robbery.

Our offer isn’t just about technology; it’s about protecting cultural heritage. Priceless artifacts, historical documents, and national treasures rely on both physical security and strong digital safeguards. With MFA, museums and other cultural institutions can close the gap between online weaknesses and real-world threats.

| Read also: Protectimus On-Premise 2FA vs Cloud-Based Authentication

6. Conclusion: Cybersecurity Protects More Than Just Data

The Louvre heist was a stark reminder that cybersecurity isn’t optional — it’s essential, especially when priceless treasures are at stake. Weak passwords, outdated software, and minimal monitoring created openings that made a physical robbery possible.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) could have stopped the thieves before they even reached the Galerie d’Apollon. By adding an extra layer of protection, MFA turns a stolen or guessed password into a dead end, keeping critical systems, from cameras to alarms to networks, secure.

At Protectimus, we’re ready to help institutions close these gaps. Our MFA solutions protect everything a museum relies on, from internal networks and VPNs to surveillance and alarm systems. The lesson is clear: protecting cultural heritage today means combining strong physical security with modern digital safeguards.

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