Louvre Museum
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History
2025
Louvre Video surveillance systems were protected by the "Louvre" password
After the theft of jewels from the Louvre in Paris, which took place on October 19, 2025, an investigation was conducted. According to its results, it was possible to identify systemic shortcomings in the organization of the protection of the museum. The password for the Louvre's video surveillance servers was simple and consisted of the word "Louvre," and the software functioned on legacy versions such as Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
At the disposal of CheckNews were materials of independent inspections and documents indicating serious problems with the protection of the world famous museum. According to the publication, these vulnerabilities could affect the change in the rhetoric of the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati.
Immediately after the theft of valuables from the Louvre, Dati claimed that the museum's security mechanisms worked properly. However, 10 days later, Dati assured the Senate of vulnerabilities in the Louvre's security system. According to her, eight software complexes that control key aspects of video monitoring have not been updated for a long time.
The accumulation of outdated equipment negatively affects access control, servers and video surveillance systems - critical components of the protection of exhibits and visitors. The technical side of security has become more complicated as digital video monitoring, penetration detection systems, pass modes, and short-range art identification systems are controlled by a variety of software and solutions.
On November 1, 2025, two suspects in the theft were formally charged. Le Parisien confirmed that the criminals were detained on their way to the Jean Buen Stadium. This statement expands the list of accused, which previously included two people detained on October 26, 2025. They are suspected of involvement in a criminal network that organized the theft of royal jewelry.[1]
Another robbery - $100 million worth of jewelry stolen
Armed robbers in October 2025 took only 7 minutes to enter the Louvre and steal a collection of royal jewelry - tiaras, necklaces and earrings of the 19th century. Thieves entered the museum using a lift, cut through windows in the Apollo Gallery, stole 8 jewelry and fled on scooters, leaving a vest with DNA traces. The cost of the stolen was estimated at $100 million.
The museum will not receive insurance for stolen jewelry, since the state itself acts as an insurer of national museums.
The Ministry of Culture explained: It is impossible to assess the'priceless' relics, and it is unrealistic to insure the entire Louvre collection - its cost could allegedly "bring down the insurance market."
Police are investigating the theft and hope to recover the items. Experts warn that thieves can melt gold and sell stones on the black market. A rise in gold prices of more than 50% in a year is pushing a wave of museum thefts across Europe.
2024: Ransomware Virus Attack
In early August 2024, the Louvre, the Grand Palais and about 40 other museums in France were subjected to a large-scale cyber attack. The attackers used the ransomware, after the implementation of which the databases of the affected organizations were completely blocked.
Hackers reportedly attacked a system used to centralize financial information. After encrypting the files, the attackers demanded a ransom, threatening in case of refusal to publish confidential information on the Internet. Initially, suspicious activity was recorded in the information infrastructure in the Grand Palais. Subsequently, it was found that dozens of organizations were affected by the cyber attack.
French law enforcement agencies opened a criminal case on the fact of an attack on information systems and extortion by an organized group. As of August 6, 2024, nothing was reported about the amount of the ransom requested by the attackers. France's National Cyber Security Agency (ANSSI) confirmed it was "informed of the incident." It is alleged that the hacker invasion does not affect any information systems involved in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Among other things, fencing and martial arts competitions are organized at the Gran Palais site.
Which cybercriminal group may be involved in extortion is not specified at the beginning of August 2024. The investigation into the incident has been handed over to the cybercrime team. Initially, a local police source mentioned the Louvre as the main target of the attack. Affected organizations are engaged in the restoration of information systems.[2]
2020: Among the most visited museums in the world
1945
1943
1913: Mona Lisa's return to the Louvre two years after her theft
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