- The recent robbery at the Louvre museum highlighted the vulnerability of digital systems in cultural institutions
- Investigators discovered that the password to the museum’s surveillance camera system was simply “slats”
- In response, Proton is offering museums, galleries and libraries two years of its Proton Pass Professional service for free
The recent high-profile security breach at the Louvre in Paris sent shockwaves through the art world, not only for the value of the stolen objects, but for the astonishingly simple security flaw that was exposed.
As the investigation unfolded, it was revealed that the password protecting the museum’s critical surveillance camera system was shockingly “slats.” This revelation underscores a growing concern: the digital doors that protect our priceless cultural heritage are often left wide open.
This glaring vulnerability, which reports suggest was flagged to the Louvre by security experts years ago, has prompted action from the tech community. In the wake of the incident, Swiss privacy company Proton, the developer behind one of the best VPN and secure email services on the market, has launched a new initiative to strengthen the digital defenses of cultural organizations around the globe.
A digital lifeline for our heritage
While museums invest heavily in physical security such as guards and vaults, their digital infrastructure can be a critical point of failure. Modern security systems, from cameras to climate control and locks, are often connected to online networks. A single weak or default password can be an entry point for cybercriminals, bypassing millions of dollars worth of physical protections and putting irreplaceable artifacts at risk.
Recognizing that many cultural institutions may lack the resources or expertise to implement robust cyber security, Proton offers a strong helping hand.
The company has announced that it will provide two years of its password manager professional plan, Proton Pass, completely free to eligible cultural institutions worldwide. This includes museums, libraries, theatres, archives and local arts centres.
“Cultural institutions are the custodians of our collective memory,” said Raphael Auphan, COO of Proton. “Yet the security of priceless assets often depends on digital doors that, if left unprotected, are vulnerable to the same threats that every modern organization faces.”
The goal of the initiative is to make strong digital security a core part of cultural preservation.
Proton Pass is a secure password manager that helps both individuals and organizations create, store and manage strong, unique passwords for all their accounts. The Professional tier also includes features like breach monitoring, which alerts administrators if their credentials appear in a known data breach, a feature recently bolstered by the launch of the Proton Sentinel program.
By equipping these organizations with enterprise-grade tools, Proton aims to close the digital security holes that make our shared history vulnerable.
Going beyond ‘password123’
The “Lovre” password incident is a stark reminder of a widespread and persistent problem. Weak and easily guessable passwords remain one of the leading causes of security breaches across all industries. For cultural institutions, which are increasingly dependent on digital systems, the stakes are incredibly high.
Proton’s initiative provides a practical, immediate solution for organizations that may not know where to start. Removing the cost barrier allows them to adopt a crucial first line of defense.
The offer, which runs until the end of 2025, is a call for the cultural sector to prioritize its digital security with the same seriousness as it applies to its physical collections. For these keepers of our history, moving beyond “password123” is no longer optional – it is essential to their survival.
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