![]() ![]() It’s time to get started logging your inventory. An added bonus is I can securely access my inventory from any computer! It’s Time to Get Started I have my KeePass database file saved to my Dropbox so I never have to worry about losing it. That way, no matter what happens to your computer, you’ll always have the vault saved somewhere else. The simplest way to ensure you never lose your vault is to save it to the cloud. Now, imagine you’ve spent all that time and effort compiling a list of all of your firearms’ makes, models, and serial numbers only to lose it all in a computer crash, to a virus, or even from accidental deletion. This is obviously extremely insecure, so be sure you change it if you decide to actually use it. The password is currently set to password. But as with anything else, the information is only as secure as the password itself, so make sure you choose a strong one. Since the database itself is encrypted with an actual password, my inventory is safe and I don’t have to worry about anyone, or any organization, getting their hands on it. Inside this password vault, I record my makes and models as the "title" and the serial numbers as the "passwords." There’s also a notes section at the bottom that I use to record things such as the color, any identifying marks, and if I’ve sold the gun I also notate the information of the person I sold it to. ![]() This means no one is getting in without the password. The database is encrypted using the best and most secure algorithms currently available. Who doesn’t love free? But not only is it free, it’s also extremely secure. I personally went with KeePass for a couple of reasons. There are several excellent password vaults out there. Password vaults are meant to securely store all of your account passwords under the lock and key of one master password, but who says they can’t be used to store something else? Like my firearm makes, models, and serial numbers! Choosing a Vault Well, I thought a little outside-the-box and I actually repurposed a password vault to securely store the information in an encrypted database. So, how do you securely store this sensitive information? It’s no one else’s business how many, and what type, of guns I have. ![]() I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a plain text Microsoft® Word document sitting on my computer that lists, in great detail, every firearm I own. And guess who suspect #1 is? How to Do It Securely Otherwise, you can expect the police to come knocking on your door. You should also have a record of the make, model, and the serial number of every gun you’ve ever sold, and who it was sold to. On another, more serious note, can you imagine the headache you’d have on your hands if one of your guns shows up at a crime scene? Hopefully, you’ve already taken the proper steps to report it lost or stolen. But armed with the serial number, you stand the best chance of getting it back. Without the serial number, your gun is just another fish in the sea. Did you know pawnbrokers and second-hand goods dealers are required to report the serial number of every gun they purchase? Did you also know law enforcement checks these serial numbers to see if any of them have been reported lost or stolen? Why? Because they provide an easy way to turn (stolen) property into cold, hard cash. Equally important is having a record of any guns you may have sold to someone else. In the event this happens, it’s important to have all of your firearms’ information documented so they can be flagged as such in the appropriate databases. Other times our things get stolen from us. We are all humans and sometimes we lose things. Smith & Wesson, Glock, etc.) as well as the serial number itself. Keep in mind, different manufacturers may use the same serial number, so it is important to record the manufacturer ( e.g. What Is a Serial Number?Ī serial number is a unique identifier, often made up of both letters and numbers, that can be used to identify each unique piece of property: in our case a firearm. In this article, I discuss how to securely and accurately keep track of all of your firearms’ information. Do you have an accurate inventory so you can tell what’s missing? Do you know the color, make, model, and the serial number of every single gun you own? Someone broke into your house and stole your firearms while you were at work today. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |