Louvre Heist Exposes Security Gaps Irish Organisations Must Address
Louvre heist exposes password failures that could affect Irish organisations. ESET Ireland urges immediate security checks across all sectors.
ESET Ireland is warning Irish organisations to urgently review their cybersecurity measures after a jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris last month revealed critical security weaknesses that could affect institutions across Ireland.
France's state auditor found that as of 2024, only 39 per cent of the Louvre's rooms were equipped with cameras, with security upgrades expected to take years to complete. Media reports have also alleged that a simple, easily guessable password was previously used on the museum's video surveillance system, a vulnerability that had been flagged years earlier by national cybersecurity reviewers.
While the museum has not publicly confirmed these specific details, the allegations highlight how human error can compromise even the most prestigious institutions.
George Foley, spokesperson for ESET Ireland, said: "This is not just a Paris story. Weak or shared passwords, dormant admin accounts and no multi-factor authentication will defeat even the best cameras and guards. Irish organisations should act now."
He urged organisations to enforce multi-factor authentication on remote access, email and privileged accounts, strip back standing admin rights, and monitor access to spot abnormal behaviour quickly.
Foley added: "If the basics fail, everything else fails."
Irish institutions have experienced the severe consequences of security weaknesses first-hand. The 2021 HSE cyberattack resulted in a remediation bill exceeding €100 million, with long-term legal and operational consequences still being felt.
With seasonal pressures building across retail, healthcare and public services, ESET Ireland is recommending immediate checks on password policies, universal multi-factor authentication for critical systems, least-privilege access controls and continuous monitoring.
These recommendations align with European guidance that identifies availability attacks and ransomware among the top cybersecurity risks facing organisations today.
More information is available at www.eset.com/ie.