geo: disable background sampling + notifications\n- Gate sampling to foreground only (beginGeohashSampling, watchers)\n- Suppress geohash activity notifications unless app is active\n- Stop sampling explicitly on background scene phase

bitchat/BitchatApp.swift

@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ struct BitchatApp: App {
                         // Optionally nudge Tor to dormant to save power
                         TorManager.shared.setAppForeground(false)
                         TorManager.shared.goDormantOnBackground()
+                        // Stop geohash sampling while backgrounded
+                        Task { @MainActor in
+                            chatViewModel.endGeohashSampling()
+                        }
                         // Proactively disconnect Nostr to avoid spurious socket errors while Tor is down
                         NostrRelayManager.shared.disconnect()
                         break

bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift

@@ -632,7 +632,11 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                             let regional = LocationChannelManager.shared.availableChannels.map { $0.geohash }
                             let bookmarks = GeohashBookmarksStore.shared.bookmarks
                             let union = Array(Set(regional).union(bookmarks))
+                            if TorManager.shared.isForeground() {
                                 self.beginGeohashSampling(for: union)
+                            } else {
+                                self.endGeohashSampling()
+                            }
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -658,7 +662,7 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             self.switchLocationChannel(to: LocationChannelManager.shared.selectedChannel)
         }
 
-        // Background: keep sampling nearby geohashes + bookmarks for notifications even when sheet is closed
+        // Foreground-only: sample nearby geohashes + bookmarks (disabled in background)
         LocationChannelManager.shared.$availableChannels
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] channels in
@@ -667,7 +671,11 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 let bookmarks = GeohashBookmarksStore.shared.bookmarks
                 let union = Array(Set(regional).union(bookmarks))
                 Task { @MainActor in
+                    if TorManager.shared.isForeground() {
                         self.beginGeohashSampling(for: union)
+                    } else {
+                        self.endGeohashSampling()
+                    }
                 }
             }
             .store(in: &cancellables)
@@ -680,17 +688,21 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 let regional = LocationChannelManager.shared.availableChannels.map { $0.geohash }
                 let union = Array(Set(regional).union(bookmarks))
                 Task { @MainActor in
+                    if TorManager.shared.isForeground() {
                         self.beginGeohashSampling(for: union)
+                    } else {
+                        self.endGeohashSampling()
+                    }
                 }
             }
             .store(in: &cancellables)
 
-        // Kick off initial sampling if we have regional channels or bookmarks
+        // Kick off initial sampling if we have regional channels or bookmarks (foreground only)
         do {
             let regional = LocationChannelManager.shared.availableChannels.map { $0.geohash }
             let bookmarks = GeohashBookmarksStore.shared.bookmarks
             let union = Array(Set(regional).union(bookmarks))
-            if !union.isEmpty {
+            if !union.isEmpty && TorManager.shared.isForeground() {
                 Task { @MainActor in self.beginGeohashSampling(for: union) }
             }
         }
@@ -1931,6 +1943,11 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
     /// Begin sampling multiple geohashes (used by channel sheet) without changing active channel.
     @MainActor
     func beginGeohashSampling(for geohashes: [String]) {
+        // Disable sampling when app is backgrounded (Tor is stopped there)
+        if !TorManager.shared.isForeground() {
+            endGeohashSampling()
+            return
+        }
         // Determine which to add and which to remove
         let desired = Set(geohashes)
         let current = Set(geoSamplingSubs.values)
@@ -1976,15 +1993,13 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 // Avoid notifications for old sampled events when launching or (re)subscribing
                 let eventTime = Date(timeIntervalSince1970: TimeInterval(event.created_at))
                 if Date().timeIntervalSince(eventTime) > 30 { return }
-                // Foreground policy: allow if it's a different geohash than the one currently open
+                // Foreground-only notifications: app must be active, and not already viewing this geohash
                 #if os(iOS)
-                if UIApplication.shared.applicationState == .active {
+                guard UIApplication.shared.applicationState == .active else { return }
                 if case .location(let ch) = self.activeChannel, ch.geohash == gh { return }
-                }
                 #elseif os(macOS)
-                if NSApplication.shared.isActive {
+                guard NSApplication.shared.isActive else { return }
                 if case .location(let ch) = self.activeChannel, ch.geohash == gh { return }
-                }
                 #endif
                 // Cooldown per geohash
                 let now = Date()