Official documents revealed during the ongoing investigation into the daring Louvre heist last month are shedding light on a specific cybersecurity weakness at the museum, according to a leading cybersecurity expert.
The documents, covering information from 2014 through 2024, show that the museum’s video surveillance systems were protected by shockingly simplistic passwords: “LOUVRE” and “THALES” – literally the names of the museum and its security software vendor.
“Whether this weakness played a role in the heist is still under review, but when systems safeguarding priceless cultural treasures rely on guessable credentials, it’s an open invitation for criminals that signals overall security culture may be weak,” says Javvad Malik, lead CISO advisor at KnowBe4.
“It’s worth asking where similar weaknesses in your own organisation’s digital defences may be,” Malik adds.
The domino effect of weak passwords
In modern security ecosystems, Malik says, physical and cybersecurity are linked. “A single compromised password can disable cameras, unlock doors, or grant access to sensitive systems – effectively turning sophisticated security infrastructure into expensive decoration,” he says. “The Louvre incident highlights the need for organisations across all sectors to re-evaluate and look at their cybersecurity hygiene to ensure it meets intended standards – including the importance of strong password management.”
Malik has some top tips for strong passwords:
- Implement and enforce password policies: Move beyond basic complexity rules. Require passwords longer than 12 characters combining uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Better still: mandate passphrases, memorable strings like “Coffee&Croissants!Morning2025” balances security with employees being able to remember it.
- Prohibit trivial and common passwords: Banning easily guessable passwords including company names, common words, sequential numbers, or personal information is paramount to preventing unauthorised access.
- Embrace multi-factor authentication (MFA): MFA adds a crucial layer of security, ensuring that even if a password is compromised, unauthorised individuals cannot gain access without a second form of verification.
- Build a security-conscious culture: Ongoing training for employees on the importance of strong passwords, secure password creation techniques, and the inherent risks of weak or reused passwords – and rewarding employees who report security concerns – is vital for fostering a positive security culture. Make password hygiene as routine as locking doors at the end of the day.
- Use password managers: Encouraging or providing employees with secure password managers that generate, encrypt, and store credentials. This eliminates the impossible choice employees face: create memorable (weak) passwords or secure (forgettable) ones. Modern password managers solve this dilemma entirely.
- Conduct regular audits and monitoring: Consistent audits of password practices and proactive monitoring for suspicious login activities or compromised accounts are essential for identifying and mitigating threats.
- Continuously review and update security systems: Cybersecurity is an evolving landscape. Organisations must periodically review and update all security systems, including password protocols, to adapt to emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
“By implementing comprehensive password policies, embracing MFA, and fostering a culture of security awareness, organisations can significantly reduce their vulnerability to cyberattacks and protect their most valuable assets,” says Malik.