The Louvre Museum is one of the most popular museums in the world. Recently it came into limelight after a theft. On October 19, a broad daylight robbery took place at the Louvre Museum. The theft of priceless jewelery has now taken a new turn, raising questions about the security of the museum. An investigation has revealed several cybersecurity and maintenance problems at the Louvre. According to a report by the French publication Liberation, these decades-long problems were repeatedly reported, but never fully resolved.
Major flaws came to light in the audit
According to the report, the first warning was given in December 2014 when the French national security agency, ANSI, audited the museum’s IT systems. The audit included the museum’s security network, which is connected to alarms, video surveillance and access control. A French government agency produced a 26-page report that found that the museum’s weak passwords and outdated systems gave experts access to the network. The report found that simply typing “LOUVRE” provided access to a video surveillance server.
As typing “THALES” opened another software developed by Thales Group, the agency issued a warning that the security network had multiple vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to easily access internal systems and alter badge access or video feeds. The agency advised the museum to strengthen passwords and upgrade its systems. However, the Louvre Museum has never publicly disclosed how many changes it has implemented. Another audit conducted in 2017 also revealed similar flaws.
Jewelery worth ₹9 billion stolen in just 8 minutes
This theft, which took place on October 19, took place in just 8 minutes. Four thieves allegedly stole jewelery worth 88 million euros (about ₹900 crore). The thieves carried out the entire incident in a filmy style. Using a basket lift, they climbed the wall of the museum, broke a window and broke a display case before escaping with the jewellery. The investigation is ongoing and several people have been arrested.
