Gate Tor/Nostr start behind permissions or mutual favorites; add clean shutdown + robust gating (#619)

- Add NetworkActivationService to permit Tor/Nostr only when location is authorized OR at least one mutual favorite exists.
- Gate TorManager.startIfNeeded/ensureRunningOnForeground behind a global allowAutoStart flag.
- Always stop Tor on background for deterministic restarts; rebuild sessions on foreground when allowed.
- NostrRelayManager respects the gate in connect/ensureConnections/subscribe/send/connectToRelay and skips reconnection when disallowed.
- Symmetric shutdown when conditions become disallowed: disconnect relays and stop Tor.
- Fix double-start by avoiding restart if Tor is already ready; prevent background thrash.
- Improve UX: post "starting tor…" via TorWillStart, and "tor started…" on initial ready; keep existing restart messages.

Rationale: Avoid starting Tor/relays when the user has no location permission and no mutual favorites, and ensure a clean, predictable lifecycle (no stale sockets, no double starts).

Co-authored-by: jack <jackjackbits@users.noreply.github.com>

bitchat/BitchatApp.swift

@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ struct BitchatApp: App {
                     #elseif os(macOS)
                     appDelegate.chatViewModel = chatViewModel
                     #endif
-                    // Spin up Tor early; all internet will gate on Tor 100%
+                    // Initialize network activation policy; will start Tor/Nostr only when allowed
-                    TorManager.shared.startIfNeeded()
+                    NetworkActivationService.shared.start()
                     // Check for shared content
                     checkForSharedContent()
                 }
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ struct BitchatApp: App {
                     switch newPhase {
                     case .background:
                         // Keep BLE mesh running in background; BLEService adapts scanning automatically
-                        // Optionally nudge Tor to dormant to save power
+                        // Always send Tor to dormant on background for a clean restart later.
                         TorManager.shared.setAppForeground(false)
                         TorManager.shared.goDormantOnBackground()
                         // Stop geohash sampling while backgrounded
@@ -87,11 +87,14 @@ struct BitchatApp: App {
                         // On initial cold launch, Tor was just started in onAppear.
                         // Skip the deterministic restart the first time we become active.
                         if didHandleInitialActive && didEnterBackground {
+                            if TorManager.shared.isAutoStartAllowed() && !TorManager.shared.isReady {
                                 TorManager.shared.ensureRunningOnForeground()
+                            }
                         } else {
                             didHandleInitialActive = true
                         }
                         didEnterBackground = false
+                        if TorManager.shared.isAutoStartAllowed() {
                             Task.detached {
                                 let _ = await TorManager.shared.awaitReady(timeout: 60)
                                 await MainActor.run {
@@ -101,6 +104,7 @@ struct BitchatApp: App {
                                     NostrRelayManager.shared.resetAllConnections()
                                 }
                             }
+                        }
                         checkForSharedContent()
                     case .inactive:
                         break

bitchat/Nostr/NostrRelayManager.swift

@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ final class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
     
     /// Connect to all configured relays
     func connect() {
+        // Global network policy gate
+        if !TorManager.shared.isAutoStartAllowed() { return }
         // Ensure Tor is started early and wait for readiness off-main; then hop back to connect.
         Task.detached {
             let ready = await TorManager.shared.awaitReady()
@@ -117,6 +119,8 @@ final class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
     
     /// Ensure connections exist to the given relay URLs (idempotent).
     func ensureConnections(to relayUrls: [String]) {
+        // Global network policy gate
+        if !TorManager.shared.isAutoStartAllowed() { return }
         if TorManager.shared.torEnforced && !TorManager.shared.isReady {
             // Defer until Tor is fully ready; avoid queuing connection attempts early
             Task.detached { [weak self] in
@@ -139,6 +143,8 @@ final class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
 
     /// Send an event to specified relays (or all if none specified)
     func sendEvent(_ event: NostrEvent, to relayUrls: [String]? = nil) {
+        // Global network policy gate
+        if !TorManager.shared.isAutoStartAllowed() { return }
         if TorManager.shared.torEnforced && !TorManager.shared.isReady {
             // Defer sends until Tor is ready to avoid premature queueing
             Task.detached { [weak self] in
@@ -213,6 +219,8 @@ final class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
         handler: @escaping (NostrEvent) -> Void,
         onEOSE: (() -> Void)? = nil
     ) {
+        // Global network policy gate
+        if !TorManager.shared.isAutoStartAllowed() { return }
         // Coalesce rapid duplicate subscribe requests only if a handler already exists
         let now = Date()
         if messageHandlers[id] != nil {
@@ -317,6 +325,8 @@ final class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
     // MARK: - Private Methods
     
     private func connectToRelay(_ urlString: String) {
+        // Global network policy gate
+        if !TorManager.shared.isAutoStartAllowed() { return }
         guard let url = URL(string: urlString) else { 
             SecureLogger.warning("Invalid relay URL: \(urlString)", category: .session)
             return 
@@ -523,6 +533,13 @@ final class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
     }
     
     private func handleDisconnection(relayUrl: String, error: Error) {
+        // If networking is disallowed, do not schedule reconnection
+        if !TorManager.shared.isAutoStartAllowed() {
+            connections.removeValue(forKey: relayUrl)
+            subscriptions.removeValue(forKey: relayUrl)
+            updateRelayStatus(relayUrl, isConnected: false, error: error)
+            return
+        }
         connections.removeValue(forKey: relayUrl)
         subscriptions.removeValue(forKey: relayUrl)
         updateRelayStatus(relayUrl, isConnected: false, error: error)

bitchat/Services/NetworkActivationService.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import Foundation
+import BitLogger
+import Combine
+
+/// Coordinates when the app is allowed to start Tor and connect to Nostr relays.
+/// Policy: permit start when either location permissions are authorized OR
+/// there exists at least one mutual favorite. Otherwise, do not start.
+@MainActor
+final class NetworkActivationService: ObservableObject {
+    static let shared = NetworkActivationService()
+
+    @Published private(set) var activationAllowed: Bool = false
+
+    private var cancellables = Set<AnyCancellable>()
+    private var started = false
+
+    private init() {}
+
+    func start() {
+        guard !started else { return }
+        started = true
+
+        // Initial compute
+        activationAllowed = Self.computeAllowed()
+        TorManager.shared.setAutoStartAllowed(activationAllowed)
+
+        // React to location permission changes
+        LocationChannelManager.shared.$permissionState
+            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
+            .sink { [weak self] _ in
+                self?.reevaluate()
+            }
+            .store(in: &cancellables)
+
+        // React to mutual favorites changes
+        FavoritesPersistenceService.shared.$mutualFavorites
+            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
+            .sink { [weak self] _ in
+                self?.reevaluate()
+            }
+            .store(in: &cancellables)
+    }
+
+    private func reevaluate() {
+        let allowed = Self.computeAllowed()
+        if allowed != activationAllowed {
+            SecureLogger.info("NetworkActivationService: activationAllowed -> \(allowed)", category: .session)
+            activationAllowed = allowed
+            TorManager.shared.setAutoStartAllowed(allowed)
+            if allowed {
+                // Kick Tor + relays if we're now permitted
+                TorManager.shared.startIfNeeded()
+                // If app is in foreground, begin relay connections
+                if TorManager.shared.isForeground() {
+                    NostrRelayManager.shared.connect()
+                }
+            } else {
+                // Transitioned to disallowed: disconnect relays and shut down Tor
+                NostrRelayManager.shared.disconnect()
+                TorManager.shared.goDormantOnBackground()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static func computeAllowed() -> Bool {
+        let permOK = LocationChannelManager.shared.permissionState == .authorized
+        let hasMutual = !FavoritesPersistenceService.shared.mutualFavorites.isEmpty
+        return permOK || hasMutual
+    }
+}

bitchat/Services/Tor/TorManager.swift

@@ -69,18 +69,24 @@ final class TorManager: ObservableObject {
     private var pathMonitor: NWPathMonitor?
     private var isAppForeground: Bool = true
     private var lastRestartAt: Date? = nil
+    // Global policy gate: only allow Tor to start when true
+    private(set) var allowAutoStart: Bool = false
 
     private init() {}
 
     // MARK: - Public API
 
     func startIfNeeded() {
+        // Respect global start policy
+        guard allowAutoStart else { return }
         // Do not start in background; caller should wait for foreground
         guard isAppForeground else { return }
         guard !didStart else { return }
         didStart = true
         isStarting = true
         lastError = nil
+        // Announce initial start so UI can show a status message
+        NotificationCenter.default.post(name: .TorWillStart, object: nil)
         ensureFilesystemLayout()
         startTor()
         startPathMonitorIfNeeded()
@@ -473,6 +479,8 @@ final class TorManager: ObservableObject {
     // MARK: - Foreground recovery and control helpers
 
     func ensureRunningOnForeground() {
+        // Respect global start policy
+        if !allowAutoStart { return }
         // iOS can suspend Tor harshly; the most reliable approach for
         // embedding is to restart Tor every time we become active.
         Task.detached(priority: .userInitiated) { [weak self] in
@@ -636,3 +644,14 @@ final class TorManager: ObservableObject {
         return resultText
     }
 }
+
+// MARK: - Start policy configuration
+extension TorManager {
+    @MainActor
+    func setAutoStartAllowed(_ allow: Bool) {
+        allowAutoStart = allow
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    func isAutoStartAllowed() -> Bool { allowAutoStart }
+}

bitchat/Services/Tor/TorNotifications.swift

@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@ import Foundation
 extension Notification.Name {
     static let TorDidBecomeReady = Notification.Name("TorDidBecomeReady")
     static let TorWillRestart = Notification.Name("TorWillRestart")
+    static let TorWillStart = Notification.Name("TorWillStart")
 }

bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift

@@ -482,6 +482,8 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
     
     // Track app startup phase to prevent marking old messages as unread
     private var isStartupPhase = true
+    // Announce Tor initial readiness once per launch to avoid duplicates
+    private var torInitialReadyAnnounced: Bool = false
     
     // Track Nostr pubkey mappings for unknown senders
     private var nostrKeyMapping: [String: String] = [:]  // senderPeerID -> nostrPubkey
@@ -548,52 +550,28 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
         // Start mesh service immediately
         meshService.startServices()
         
-        // Announce Tor status (geohash-only; do not show in mesh chat)
+        // Announce Tor status (geohash-only; do not show in mesh chat). Only when auto-start is allowed.
-        if TorManager.shared.torEnforced && !torStatusAnnounced {
+        if TorManager.shared.torEnforced && !torStatusAnnounced && TorManager.shared.isAutoStartAllowed() {
             torStatusAnnounced = true
             addGeohashOnlySystemMessage("starting tor...")
-            // Suppress incremental Tor progress messages; only show initial start and readiness.
+            // Suppress incremental Tor progress messages
             torProgressCancellable = nil
-            Task.detached {
-                let ready = await TorManager.shared.awaitReady()
-                Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
-                    guard let self else { return }
-                    if ready { self.addGeohashOnlySystemMessage("tor started. routing all chats via tor for privacy.") }
-                    else { self.addGeohashOnlySystemMessage("still waiting for tor to start...") }
-                }
-            }
         } else if !TorManager.shared.torEnforced && !torStatusAnnounced {
             torStatusAnnounced = true
             addGeohashOnlySystemMessage("development build: tor bypass enabled.")
         }
 
-        // Initialize Nostr services only after Tor is fully ready, to avoid
+        // Initialize Nostr relay manager regardless of Tor readiness; connection is controlled elsewhere
-        // interleaving setup logs during Tor startup.
-        Task { @MainActor in
-            // Wait for Tor readiness before Nostr init
-            let ready = await TorManager.shared.awaitReady(timeout: 60)
-            guard ready else {
-                SecureLogger.error("Nostr init skipped: Tor not ready", category: .session)
-                return
-            }
         nostrRelayManager = NostrRelayManager.shared
-            SecureLogger.debug("Initializing Nostr relay connections", category: .session)
+        // Attempt to flush any queued outbox (mesh/Nostr routing will gate appropriately)
-            // Connect is managed centrally on scene activation; avoid duplicate connects here
-
-            // Attempt to flush any queued outbox after Nostr comes online
         messageRouter.flushAllOutbox()
-            
+        // End startup phase after a short delay
-            // End startup phase after 2 seconds
-            // During startup phase, we:
-            // 1. Skip cleanup of read receipts
-            // 2. Only block OLD messages from being marked as unread
         Task { @MainActor in
-                try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: UInt64(TransportConfig.uiStartupPhaseDurationSeconds * 1_000_000_000)) // 2 seconds
+            try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: UInt64(TransportConfig.uiStartupPhaseDurationSeconds * 1_000_000_000))
             self.isStartupPhase = false
         }
-            
         // Bind unified peer service's peer list to our published property
-            let cancellable = unifiedPeerService.$peers
+        let peersCancellable = unifiedPeerService.$peers
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] peers in
                 guard let self = self else { return }
@@ -611,18 +589,12 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                     }
                 }
                 self.peerIndex = uniquePeers
-                    // Schedule UI update if peers changed
-                    if peers.count > 0 || self.allPeers.count > 0 {
-                        // UI will update automatically
-                    }
-                    
                 // Update private chat peer ID if needed when peers change
                 if self.selectedPrivateChatFingerprint != nil {
                     self.updatePrivateChatPeerIfNeeded()
                 }
             }
-            
+        self.cancellables.insert(peersCancellable)
-            self.cancellables.insert(cancellable)
 
         // Resubscribe geohash on relay reconnect
         if let relayMgr = self.nostrRelayManager {
@@ -652,7 +624,6 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 }
                 .store(in: &self.cancellables)
         }
-        }
 
         // Set up Noise encryption callbacks
         setupNoiseCallbacks()
@@ -801,6 +772,12 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             name: .TorDidBecomeReady,
             object: nil
         )
+        NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+            self,
+            selector: #selector(handleTorWillStart),
+            name: .TorWillStart,
+            object: nil
+        )
         #else
         NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
             self,
@@ -845,6 +822,12 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             name: .TorDidBecomeReady,
             object: nil
         )
+        NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+            self,
+            selector: #selector(handleTorWillStart),
+            name: .TorWillStart,
+            object: nil
+        )
         #endif
     }
     
@@ -855,6 +838,15 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
     }
 
     // MARK: - Tor notifications
+    @objc private func handleTorWillStart() {
+        Task { @MainActor in
+            if !self.torStatusAnnounced && TorManager.shared.torEnforced {
+                self.torStatusAnnounced = true
+                // Post only in geohash channels (queue if not active)
+                self.addGeohashOnlySystemMessage("starting tor...")
+            }
+        }
+    }
     @objc private func handleTorWillRestart() {
         Task { @MainActor in
             self.torRestartPending = true
@@ -870,6 +862,10 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 // Post only in geohash channels (queue if not active)
                 self.addGeohashOnlySystemMessage("tor restarted. network routing restored.")
                 self.torRestartPending = false
+            } else if TorManager.shared.torEnforced && !self.torInitialReadyAnnounced {
+                // Initial start completed
+                self.addGeohashOnlySystemMessage("tor started. routing all chats via tor for privacy.")
+                self.torInitialReadyAnnounced = true
             }
         }
     }