Think Louvre's password was WEAK? Wait till you hear THESE suggestions

Imagine being the home to millions of dollars' worth of artifacts and having a jellyfish on guard duty!That’s exactly what Louvre did!If you thought your pet’s name or “123456” was a weak password, wait until you hear what the Louvre Museum in Paris had guarding its surveillance system: the password was simply “LOUVRE”.Yes, we know the jaws are on the floor — but pick it up now real quick, because the internet has some theories and thoughts about the “strength” of passwords, and we must spill the beans!

The password that should be in museum

During a post-heist audit, it emerged that the museum’s video surveillance server was reportedly protected by the password simply “Louvre”. Yep — the name of the building itself, the same name you’d see on the entrance banner, the same word engraved on countless travel blogs, and the same word that’s mentioned in numerous reels even!Truthfully, it wouldn’t have taken a pro hacker to hack into the surveillance system because the password to the system is the same word that any first-timer hacker would try — it’s basically just one step above ‘password’.Now, as security experts roll their eyes and educators everywhere say “we told you so”, we’re leaning in to some of the wildest and funniest password suggestions that netizens offered when the world asked: what could be worse than ‘Louvre’?

Internet’s hot take

The internet, naturally, had a field day. From social media users pointing out that this is the kind of security leak you’d expect in a badly written video game to witty tweets about the museum’s IT department, the jokes came fast.

When the news broke, one social media user even posted on X (formerly, Twitter), “If you feel bad at your job, remember the Louvre’s password was ‘Louvre’.”Another user quipped, “For a world-famous art museum you’d think they'd be a little more creative than that,” while a third one added, “Louvre1!” as if adding a digit would make it top-level secure.”Another user chimed in, “Not even L0uvr3?!—that’s how low the bar was.”

So… what exactly were the internet’s password suggestions?

Rather than simply mock the Louvre’s slip-up, people online offered up a whirlwind of alternative passwords — both humorous and informative. Some of our top picks:“Mon Dieu123!” – As though crying out in exasperation is enough to fool hackers.“M0nALisaSm1les” – A nod to the most-famously protected painting, with a “leet” twist.“DaVinciCode#2025!” — Better, but still predictable if the guard knows art history.“LouvreMuseumParis2025!” – Longer, more complex, but still anchored to the same institution.“CrownJewelsGone” – In a cheeky reference to the heist itself, ensuring your password screams irony.“IlovePretzels&Wine” – Completely unrelated to the Louvre, but maybe its randomness made it a hit as a “real” secure password.

What YOU should learn from the ‘heist’

There’s a reason cybersecurity experts obsess about passwords: they’re the first gatekeepers. A weak one opens the floodgates — not just to memes and mockery, but potentially to serious breaches. The key takeaway: Don’t take cybersecurity lightly!Passwords are still the foundation of your online security.

Using a weak or reused password is like leaving your house key under the welcome mat and telling the world the hiding spot.According to experts, three key attributes mark a strong password: length, randomness (or unpredictability), and uniqueness. Length: Aim for at least 15-16 characters (longer is better). Randomness and complexity: Mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols, or use a passphrase made of several unrelated words.

Avoid simple words, personal details, and common patterns. Uniqueness: Use a different password for every account. If one site is breached and you reuse passwords, attackers gain access to multiple accounts.Protected with additional layers: Even a strong password can fail if the account has zero other safeguards. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), aka two-step verification, wherever possible.Additionally — and this is an important note to keep in mind — don’t use your name, birthday, pet’s name, or “Password2025!”. These are easy picks for hackers. Furthermore, use a password manager. It’s unrealistic to remember a dozen long, unique passwords. Password managers generate, store, and auto-fill them securely — you just need to remember one master password.