Technology

Thieves steal $100M in jewels from Louvre after museum used own name as surveillance password

Published

4 weeks ago

November 10, 2025

Thieves steal 0M in jewels from Louvre after museum used own name as surveillance password

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When thieves stole $100 million in jewels from the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, France, they shocked the art world and revealed a serious digital weakness. French media reports say the museum once used its own name, Louvre, as a password for its surveillance system.

That detail may sound unbelievable, yet it highlights how often people still rely on weak passwords even in high-security places that should know better.

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Thieves reportedly stole more than $100 million in jewels from the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, exposing surprising gaps in security. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Louvre password security flaws revealed in investigator’s audit

A decade-old French cybersecurity audit reportedly showed troubling gaps in the museum’s defenses. The Louvre is said to have once run outdated Windows Server 2003 software and had unguarded rooftop access, something eerily similar to how the recent thieves used an electric ladder to reach a balcony.

The biggest mistake? Using “Louvre” and “Thales” as passwords. One of them was even said to be visible on the login screen. That was like leaving the keys under the doormat of the world’s most famous museum.

CyberGuy reached out to the Louvre for comment, but did not receive a response before our deadline.

LOUVRE DIRECTOR GRILLED ON SPECTACULAR SECURITY FAILURES, INCLUDING CAMERA POINTING AWAY FROM KEY BALCONY

And while the Louvre may have tightened security since then, experts warn that password habits like these are still widespread among businesses and individuals.

Why Louvre’s weak passwords matter for your online security

You might not have priceless jewels to protect, but your personal data, financial info and digital identity are just as valuable to hackers. With the holiday shopping season here, cybercriminals ramp up their attacks, knowing millions of you are logging in, buying online and often reusing old passwords.

How to create stronger passwords

Reports revealed the museum once used simple passwords like “Louvre” and “Thales,” raising serious cybersecurity concerns. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: A PARIS JEWEL HEIST STRAIGHT OUT OF THE MOVIES

Protecting yourself online doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow these tips to boost your defenses:

Avoid using your name or anything easily guessed.
Mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
Change passwords if a company you use reports a data breach.
Skip sticky notes or digital files with unencrypted passwords.

LOUVRE HEIST IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AMID APPARENT SECURITY LAPSES PUTS GLOBAL MUSEUMS ON ALERT

Think beyond your phone or laptop. Your Wi-Fi router, smart home devices and even security cameras all have passwords that need attention.

Stay safe with a password manager

If keeping up with dozens of unique passwords sounds overwhelming, a password manager can help. These tools generate strong, unique, complex passwords for every account and store them securely in one encrypted vault. This reduces the risk of password reuse. Many password managers also alert you to compromised passwords or sites hit by data leaks.

LOUVRE HEIST ADDS TO HISTORY OF HIGH-PROFILE MUSEUM BREACHES, LEAVES OTHER GALLERIES ON EDGE

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com

Cybersecurity experts say everyone should strengthen passwords and consider using a password manager to stay protected online. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

The Louvre’s massive heist shows that even the most respected institutions can make simple cybersecurity mistakes. You can learn from their example by strengthening your own passwords and taking digital safety seriously. Start by creating unique, complex passwords for every account and consider using a password manager to keep them secure and organized. A few minutes of effort today can protect you from financial loss, identity theft or worse.

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Have you ever spotted a weak password or security risk that made you shake your head? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Technology

Apple’s chip chief might be the next exec to leave

Published

2 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Apple’s chip chief might be the next exec to leave

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is reporting that Johny Srouji, senior vice president of hardware technologies, told Tim Cook he is “seriously considering” leaving Apple for another company in the near future. It was reported in October that Srouji was “evaluating his future at the tech giant.” While nothing is confirmed, it seems the executive is leaning towards not having a future at Cupertino.

If Srouji leaves, he would be just the latest in a string of high-profile shakeups in the company’s C-suite. COO Jeff Williams announced his retirement in July, which led to some shifting of roles. But things have only accelerated in December, with AI chief John Giannandrea stepping down, policy lead Lisa Jackson and general counsel Kate Adams announcing plans to retire, and UI design lead Alan Dye departing for Meta, all in the last few days.

Apple has struggled somewhat to find its footing as the industry further embraces AI. Now Tim Cook is tasked with trying to stem the bleeding, while being subject to rumors of his own departure. Gurman, who is usually reliable, has said those rumors are premature, but it still adds to the uncertainty surrounding what is typically one of the more stable companies in Silicon Valley.

Technology

Scammers target wireless customers in new phone scheme

Published

3 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Scammers target wireless customers in new phone scheme

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A troubling message landed in our inbox, and it reveals a scam that many people have never seen. Before we break it down, here is an email Gary from Palmetto, Florida, sent us:

“This just happened to a friend of mine. It’s the first time I’ve heard of this scam. She bought a new phone from Spectrum. 2 days later, she got a call saying they were from Spectrum and told her that they’d accidentally given her a refurbished phone rather than a new one and asked her to send it back, which he did.

“However, that night she got the feeling that something wasn’t right. She contacted UPS the next day and Spectrum, and verified that it was a scam and fortunately was able to get her phone back. But UPS told her that they actually changed the return address and the address it was going to as soon as it was shipped. She was just darn lucky she got her phone back. But like I say, this is something new. Nobody I’ve talked to has heard of it yet,” it wrote.

This experience shows how quickly scammers evolve. It also highlights how important fast action can be when something feels off.

HOW 3.5B WHATSAPP NUMBERS WERE SCRAPED AND EXPOSED

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Scammers time their calls right after a new phone delivery to make the story feel real. (Cyberguy.com)

How this new phone return scam works

You may avoid this scam when you know the steps criminals use to pull it off. Here is how they operate.

1) Scammers track recent purchases

They start by watching recent phone or carrier purchases through leaked data, phishing or stolen shipment information. Because they know when a phone was delivered, they can time the call with precision.

2) They call with a convincing story

Next, they pretend to represent Spectrum or another carrier. They claim a mix-up happened and say the customer received a refurbished device. Since the call ties directly to a real purchase, the story feels believable.

3) They pressure the victim to ship the phone

After that, they send a prepaid label that looks official. Once the victim ships the phone, they alter the destination through UPS or FedEx tools or hacked accounts. As a result, the device gets rerouted fast.

4) They follow up to reduce doubt

Sometimes they even send a second message or call to confirm receipt. This extra touch delays the moment the victim realizes the package went to a different address.

5) Quick action saved Gary’s friend

Gary’s friend sensed something felt wrong. She contacted UPS and Spectrum right away, which allowed them to intercept the shipment before final delivery.

FAKE AGENT PHONE SCAMS ARE SPREADING FAST ACROSS THE US

Steps to protect yourself from phone return fraud

These simple actions can stop this scam early and keep your new phone safe.

1) Confirm every return request

Always check with your carrier through its official phone number or website chat before you ship a device.

2) Ignore labels sent by callers

Treat any label that appears outside your verified online account as suspicious since scammers use these to reroute packages.

3) Ship only after confirming the address

Use your own shipping and send the phone only after you verify the correct return address with your carrier.

4) Watch for pressure

Scammers use phrases, like “We made a mistake” or “We will credit your account to push quick action.” Slow down and confirm before you do anything.

5) Add a carrier account PIN

Create a PIN and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your account from unauthorized access.

Fake return labels look official, which makes victims believe they are sending the phone back to the carrier. (Reuters/Thomas Peter/File Photo)

6) Use a strong antivirus software

Strong antivirus software blocks phishing sites and dangerous links that scammers use to steal account data. It also warns you about scam calls and messages tied to known threats.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

7) Use a personal data removal service

A data removal service pulls your information off people search sites that expose your address, carrier details and phone number. Lowering that exposure reduces targeted scam calls.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING WRONG WHEN SCAMMERS CALL

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

8) Check your account for any new orders or changes

Scammers sometimes add fake orders or create return requests inside your carrier account. Reviewing your activity can reveal tampering quickly. Check your carrier account for new orders or changes. Look for return requests, shipping labels or edits you did not make.

9) Turn on shipping alerts for packages

Most carriers and shipping companies let you enable text or email alerts. This makes it harder for scammers to reroute a package without you knowing. Turn on delivery alerts with UPS, FedEx or USPS. Real-time updates help you catch reroutes before your device moves too far.

10) Protect your shipping login

Scammers often use stolen UPS or FedEx credentials to change addresses. Secure your UPS or FedEx accounts with strong passwords. This limits unauthorized access that scammers rely on. Consider using a password manager, which securely stores and generates complex passwords, reducing the risk of password reuse.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Quick action with UPS or the carrier can stop the scam before the package reaches the wrong hands. (iStock)

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.

11) Avoid reading label numbers out loud over the phone

Some scammers ask victims to read tracking numbers or label details. They use these codes to hijack shipments. Never share tracking numbers or label details with anyone who calls you. Scammers use those numbers to redirect packages.

12) Report attempted fraud

Your report helps carriers investigate similar attempts. Report any suspicious calls to your carrier’s fraud department. Your story can help protect other customers from the same scheme.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Phone return scams keep spreading because scammers watch for any moment when people feel rushed or distracted. When a new device arrives, most of us feel excited and eager to get it set up, which gives criminals a narrow window to strike. Taking a few simple steps to verify every return request can shut down the entire scheme before it reaches your door. Slow down, check the details and trust your instincts if anything feels off. Your caution can save you from losing a brand-new phone to a convincing lie.

What scam attempts have you or someone you know run into lately that others should know about? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

Welcome to the big leagues, Netflix

Published

15 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Warner Bros. has an infamous history of being bought by other companies and then quickly ending up back on the market after its new owners realize how difficult it is to capitalize on a legacy production studio’s assets. Those challenges are part of what doomed WB’s mergers with AOL and AT&T, who bought the studio in attempts to reinvent themselves. But WB’s latest acquisition deal — this time with Netflix for $83 billion — feels like it has the potential to turn out differently because of how much of a major player within the entertainment industry the streamer has become. It also signals just how far Netflix has come: in less than two decades the streamer has gone from tech upstart to subsuming one of the most storied studios in Hollywood.

Assuming that the deal receives regulatory approval, Netflix will soon own the entirety of Warner Bros.’ (but not Discovery Global’s) assets, which includes HBO / HBO Max, DC Studios, and the legacy studio’s television and film production arms. This would make Netflix the corporate home to many more of the world’s biggest entertainment franchises, like Game of Thrones and Harry Potter, and give the streamer a much larger operational footprint as a proper studio. Discovery Global — which retains ownership of networks including CNN, the Discovery Channel, and TLC — is set to become an independent corporate entity by Q3 in 2026.

This strategic bifurcation and sale of assets was obviously WBD’s desired outcome when the company first announced earlier this year that it planned to split Warner Bros. and Discovery back into two units. Back then, CEO David Zaslav had not yet announced that the company was open to acquisition offers. But you could glean as much from looking at the way that WBD was struggling to turn a profit with its linear cable networks.

Even though WBD managed to pay down a substantial portion of the $55 billion debt it inherited when Discovery bought WarnerMedia, the merged company’s flagging cable TV assets were a major factor in it receiving a significantly downgraded credit score earlier this year. That debt — a holdover from AOL’s disastrous merger with Time Warner — loomed over WBD for the entirety of Zaslav’s tenure as CEO.

A blend of money problems, misguided rebrands, and multiple rounds of layoffs left WBD in a very precarious position that made selling itself off to the highest bidder one of its only viable options to appease shareholders. Those challenges might also be difficult for Netflix to deal with, but this situation feels like it could shake out very differently for a handful of key reasons.

Unlike previous mergers where Warner Bros. was gobbled up by traditional tech giants and telecoms, the new deal is coming at a time when Netflix has long since established itself as a Hollywood power player. In addition to acquiring IP that goes on to become hits, the streamer has built out a robust production infrastructure to spin up wholly original projects of its own. And with many of the platform’s subscriber-generating projects like Stranger Things and Squid Game coming to an end, it’s easy to understand why it wanted to scoop up Warner Bros.’ sizable library of films and series. Netflix doesn’t have the strongest track record of building its own franchises — remember Rebel Moon? — and that’s exactly what it’s getting with WB.

Though Netflix feels like a better acquisition partner compared to Warner Bros.’ previous owners, this is still a consolidation and these kinds of mergers always come with casualties. And it is likely that we will soon start hearing about layoffs as Netflix begins dealing with internal redundancies created by its absorption of Warner Bros.’ employees and operations. But what is much less clear is how the newly merged studio will go about releasing its new projects.

In 2021 during the covid-19 pandemic’s height, WBD’s decision to debut movies on HBO Max as opposed to theaters prompted directors like Christopher Nolan to denounce the company for becoming “the worst streaming service.” Though box office numbers still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, theaters have reopened, and breakout hits like Warner Bros.’ A Minecraft Movie and Superman features have made it clear that there is a demand to see movies on the big screen. Netflix has experimented with very limited theatrical releases that transparently read as plays to qualify its movies for major industry awards. But it has still primarily been a streaming company in the years since it got out of the DVD game.

Unlike MGM, which was on the decline when Amazon bought it, Warner Bros. has had a very strong track record with its recent theatrical releases. Netflix has said that it “expects” to keep putting Warner Bros.’ movies in theaters, but co-CEO Ted Sarandos has signaled that the company is thinking about shortening its theatrical windows in order to “meet the audience where they are quicker.”

“I’d say right now, you should count on everything that is planned on going to the theater through Warner Bros. will continue to go to the theaters through Warner Bros. and Netflix movies will take the same strides they have,” Sarandos said this week in a call with industry analysts.

Netflix has also made abundantly clear that it is open to cutting production costs by using generative AI. The company has not mandated that its collaborators use the technology as part of their production workflows, but it is easy to imagine gen AI becoming a bigger part of the studio now that it has taken on all of the projects Warner Bros. has in development.

The more glaring concern to come out of the new merger is the way that this could impact competition between the major studios and streaming platforms. Netflix has effectively replaced Warner Bros. as one of the Big Five, which will likely change the entertainment industry’s power dynamics. But streaming customers will probably feel these shifts more directly as Netflix and its competitors settle into a new status quo.

Netflix’s prices could go up yet again under the auspice that the service has become more premium with Warner Bros.’ offerings. It’s still not clear how Netflix will handle the HBO / Max brands long term. The company has said that it thinks “HBO and HBO Max also provide a compelling, complementary offering for consumers,” but it would not be surprising to see those brands ultimately going the way of Hulu, which has been turned into a section within Disney Plus.

It has been years since Netflix was a rowdy upstart fighting to be taken seriously. But even though the company has already cemented itself as the world’s biggest TV / movie streamer, this new deal will take it to a different level of prominence. The Netflix / WBD merger will undoubtedly result in changes — some of them bad — that reverberate through the entire entertainment landscape.

But as tumultuous as things will likely feel in the immediate future, it doesn’t seem likely that Netflix will end up trying to sell off Warner Bros. in a couple of years. Acquisitions of this scale aren’t the company’s usual MO, but it has been bullish about wanting Warner Bros. since the studio went on sale. If the deal goes through, Netflix is undoubtedly in the big leagues — now it has to prove it belongs.

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