The Great Louvre Heist… and Why “LOUVRE” as a Password Was a Horrible Idea

Imagine being the world’s most famous museum. Priceless art, millions of visitors every year, top-tier security.
Now imagine the intruders walk in, take jewels worth about $100 million, and you find out the password protecting your core surveillance system was simply: “LOUVRE”.
Yep. That really happened.

Here’s the story.

What Went Down at the Louvre

One morning (October 19, 2025), four thieves dressed like construction workers popped up at the Louvre. They used a lift, cut through a glass window of the Galerie d’Apollon, grabbed eight historic jewels (including tiaras, emerald necklaces and brooches) and were gone in under 8 minutes. (Wikipedia)

The shocking part? The password for the museum’s video surveillance system at the time was reportedly “LOUVRE”. No numbers. No symbols. Just the museum’s name. (ABC News)

And get this: a 2014 audit by the French cybersecurity agency found that very same weak password and said the system had “trivial” passwords and outdated software. Yet it wasn’t fixed. (VICE)

So the thieves basically got in through the front door of the digital world—while the physical break-in was happening. Yikes.

Why That’s Hilariously Terrible… But Also Super Serious for You

Okay, we can chuckle a bit at “LOUVRE” as a password. It’s like locking up your house and using the key that says “WELCOME”. But for manufacturers and small businesses, the implications are massive.

What this means for your business:

• If the Louvre’s password can be “LOUVRE”, your ERP, MES, or vendor portal might be using something like “Factory2025!” or “Plant1234”. That’s basically inviting trouble.

• The burglars didn’t need to crack decades of encryption—they got in because someone set a terrible password and didn’t set up stronger protections.

• If thieves stole $100 million in jewels from a museum with global fame, imagine what could happen to your production lines, supplier data, or IP designs if your security is weak.

The Missing Pieces: MFA, 2FA, and Strong Passwords

Here’s how you avoid being the next “LOUVRE” password story:

✅ Use Complex Passwords (No “Company123”)

Think: long, random, surprising. Example: “GearsWidgetsFactory@87” is way better than “Widgets2025”.

✅ Turn On MFA or 2FA Everywhere

Multi-Factor Authentication means after the password, you need a second proof (text, push app, token). Even if someone guesses or steals your password, they’re stuck at the door.

✅ Treat Your Digital Systems Like the Crown Jewels

Because for you, your data is your jewel: machine specs, customer lists, production plans. Don’t leave them guarded by “LOUVRE”.

A Funny But Real Lesson for Manufacturers

Picture this:
You’re running your plant. One morning you log in and… everything’s frozen. Production stops. The supplier portal is locked. Why? Because of a breach.
Then you find out the hacker used the password “FactoryName2025” and your MFA was off.
You sigh, you groan… you think: “Why did we skip that update?”

Now imagine telling your team:

“Guys, we spent three months designing the new widget line, but the only thing protecting it was Widgets123.”

(Not. Good.)

Quick “Factory-Grade” Checklist

🛠️ Password Upgrade: Get rid of simple words and reuse. Use a password manager.
🔐 MFA On: For everything—email, ERP, vendor tools, even WiFi board login.
🧑‍🏭 Emergency Plan: If someone logs in at 3 a.m. from a strange device—what’s your response?
📚 Training: Teach your team that phishing + weak passwords = disaster.
🔍 Audit Your Systems: Even big places like the Louvre missed this—don’t be that big place.

So What’s the Takeaway?

When a facility like the Louvre uses “LOUVRE” as its password, the message is loud and clear: “We skipped the basics.”
For your manufacturing business, skipping the basics could mean stolen designs, production stops, lost customers—and that’s not funny anymore.

Protect your business like your assets really are priceless.
Turn on MFA, use strong unique passwords, and make sure your security is real. Because trustworthy systems don’t come with jokes like “password123”.