Harden panic recovery and service shutdown

bitchat/App/AppChromeModel.swift

@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ final class AppChromeModel: ObservableObject {
 
     private let chatViewModel: ChatViewModel
     private var cancellables = Set<AnyCancellable>()
+    /// The composer owns capture state above ChatViewModel. ContentView
+    /// installs this hook so both panic entry points synchronously stop it.
+    private var prepareForPanic: (@MainActor () -> Void)?
 
     /// Bulletin-board coordinator, created on first use of the board sheet.
     private(set) lazy var boardManager = BoardManager(transport: chatViewModel.meshService)
@@ -97,7 +100,12 @@ final class AppChromeModel: ObservableObject {
         showScreenshotPrivacyWarning = true
     }
 
+    func setPanicPreparation(_ preparation: (@MainActor () -> Void)?) {
+        prepareForPanic = preparation
+    }
+
     func panicClearAllData() {
+        prepareForPanic?()
         chatViewModel.panicClearAllData()
     }
 

bitchat/App/AppRuntime.swift

@@ -107,12 +107,15 @@ final class AppRuntime: ObservableObject {
             )
         )
 
-        GeoRelayDirectory.shared.prefetchIfNeeded()
+        if chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed {
+            GeoRelayDirectory.shared.prefetchIfNeeded()
+        }
         bindRuntimeObservers()
         NotificationDelegate.shared.runtime = self
     }
 
     func start() {
+        guard chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed else { return }
         guard !started else {
             checkForSharedContent()
             return
@@ -151,12 +154,14 @@ final class AppRuntime: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     func handleDidBecomeActiveNotification() {
+        guard chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed else { return }
         chatViewModel.handleDidBecomeActive()
         checkForSharedContent()
     }
 
     #if os(macOS)
     func handleMacDidBecomeActiveNotification() {
+        guard chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed else { return }
         record(.scenePhaseChanged(.active))
         chatViewModel.handleDidBecomeActive()
         checkForSharedContent()
@@ -175,6 +180,7 @@ final class AppRuntime: ObservableObject {
             didEnterBackground = true
 
         case .active:
+            guard chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed else { return }
             record(.scenePhaseChanged(.active))
             chatViewModel.meshService.startServices()
             TorManager.shared.setAppForeground(true)
@@ -222,6 +228,7 @@ final class AppRuntime: ObservableObject {
         actionIdentifier: String = UNNotificationDefaultActionIdentifier,
         userInfo: [AnyHashable: Any]
     ) {
+        guard chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed else { return }
         if actionIdentifier == NotificationService.waveActionID {
             chatViewModel.sendMeshWave()
             return
@@ -273,6 +280,8 @@ private extension AppRuntime {
         NotificationCenter.default.publisher(for: .TorWillRestart)
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] _ in
+                guard self?.chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed == true
+                else { return }
                 self?.record(.torLifecycleChanged(.willRestart))
                 self?.chatViewModel.handleTorWillRestart()
             }
@@ -281,6 +290,8 @@ private extension AppRuntime {
         NotificationCenter.default.publisher(for: .TorDidBecomeReady)
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] _ in
+                guard self?.chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed == true
+                else { return }
                 self?.record(.torLifecycleChanged(.didBecomeReady))
                 self?.chatViewModel.handleTorDidBecomeReady()
             }
@@ -289,6 +300,8 @@ private extension AppRuntime {
         NotificationCenter.default.publisher(for: .TorWillStart)
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] _ in
+                guard self?.chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed == true
+                else { return }
                 self?.record(.torLifecycleChanged(.willStart))
                 self?.chatViewModel.handleTorWillStart()
             }
@@ -297,6 +310,8 @@ private extension AppRuntime {
         NotificationCenter.default.publisher(for: .TorUserPreferenceChanged)
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] notification in
+                guard self?.chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed == true
+                else { return }
                 self?.record(.torLifecycleChanged(.preferenceChanged))
                 self?.chatViewModel.handleTorPreferenceChanged(notification)
             }
@@ -313,6 +328,7 @@ private extension AppRuntime {
     }
 
     func checkForSharedContent() {
+        guard chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed else { return }
         guard let userDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: BitchatApp.groupID) else { return }
         let clearSharedContent = {
             userDefaults.removeObject(forKey: "sharedContent")
@@ -359,7 +375,9 @@ private extension AppRuntime {
         let becameConnected = isConnected && !lastNostrRelayConnectedState
         lastNostrRelayConnectedState = isConnected
 
-        guard started, becameConnected else { return }
+        guard chatViewModel.networkActivationAllowed,
+              started,
+              becameConnected else { return }
 
         let isInitialConnection = !didHandleInitialNostrConnection
         didHandleInitialNostrConnection = true

bitchat/Features/voice/VoiceCaptureSession.swift

@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ protocol VoiceCaptureSession: AnyObject {
     /// nothing valid was captured.
     func finish() async -> URL?
     func cancel() async
+    /// Stops capture and suppresses every later send before returning.
+    func panicCancelSynchronously()
 }
 
 /// The classic record-then-send backend, wrapping the shared `VoiceRecorder`.
@@ -55,6 +57,10 @@ final class VoiceNoteCaptureSession: VoiceCaptureSession {
     func cancel() async {
         await recorder.cancelRecording(owner: owner)
     }
+
+    func panicCancelSynchronously() {
+        recorder.panicCancelSynchronously(owner: owner)
+    }
 }
 
 /// Testable surface of the live capture engine. Production uses
@@ -216,6 +222,13 @@ final class PTTLiveVoiceSession: VoiceCaptureSession {
         }
     }
 
+    func panicCancelSynchronously() {
+        // Do not emit a canceled packet: it would itself be pre-panic
+        // conversation data racing the emergency transport reset.
+        completed = true
+        capture.cancel()
+    }
+
     private func sendControlPacket(_ kind: VoiceBurstPacket.Kind) {
         guard let packet = VoiceBurstPacket(burstID: burstID, seq: stream.packetizer.nextSeq, kind: kind) else { return }
         sendPacket(packet.encode())

bitchat/Features/voice/VoiceRecorder.swift

@@ -246,6 +246,21 @@ actor VoiceRecorder {
         currentURL = nil
     }
 
+    /// Panic is a synchronous security boundary: the caller must know the
+    /// microphone, audio-session lease, and partial file are gone before it
+    /// rotates identities or deletes the media tree. VoiceRecorder is an
+    /// independent actor and this cleanup path never hops to MainActor, so a
+    /// short semaphore join is safe even when invoked by the UI actor.
+    nonisolated
+    func panicCancelSynchronously(owner: RecordingOwner) {
+        let finished = DispatchSemaphore(value: 0)
+        Task {
+            await cancelRecording(owner: owner)
+            finished.signal()
+        }
+        finished.wait()
+    }
+
     /// The audio session was interrupted (call, Siri) or reconfigured: stop
     /// the recorder but keep `recorder`/`currentURL` so the caller's pending
     /// `stopRecording()` still returns the partial note.

bitchat/Services/BLE/BLEIncomingFileStore.swift

@@ -2,8 +2,116 @@ import BitLogger
 import BitFoundation
 import Foundation
 
+struct PanicRecoveryIntent {
+    let fileMarkerEstablished: Bool
+    let externalMarkerEstablished: Bool
+
+    var hasDurableMarker: Bool {
+        fileMarkerEstablished || externalMarkerEstablished
+    }
+}
+
+/// Small, dependency-injectable transaction surface used by ChatViewModel.
+/// Production persists the same intent in two independent locations before
+/// any application state is erased. Tests can inject an ephemeral operation
+/// set without touching the developer's Application Support directory.
+struct PanicRecoveryOperations {
+    let isPending: () throws -> Bool
+    let begin: () -> PanicRecoveryIntent
+    let wipeMedia: (PanicRecoveryIntent) throws -> Void
+    let complete: () throws -> Void
+
+    static func ephemeral(
+        wipeMedia: @escaping () throws -> Void = {}
+    ) -> PanicRecoveryOperations {
+        PanicRecoveryOperations(
+            isPending: { false },
+            begin: {
+                PanicRecoveryIntent(
+                    fileMarkerEstablished: false,
+                    externalMarkerEstablished: false
+                )
+            },
+            wipeMedia: { _ in try wipeMedia() },
+            complete: {}
+        )
+    }
+
+    static func live(
+        fileStore: BLEIncomingFileStore = BLEIncomingFileStore(),
+        defaults: UserDefaults = .standard
+    ) -> PanicRecoveryOperations {
+        let defaultsKey = "bitchat.panicResetPending"
+        return PanicRecoveryOperations(
+            isPending: {
+                if defaults.bool(forKey: defaultsKey) {
+                    return true
+                }
+                return try fileStore.isPanicRecoveryPending()
+            },
+            begin: {
+                defaults.set(true, forKey: defaultsKey)
+                let externalMarkerEstablished =
+                    defaults.synchronize()
+                    && defaults.bool(forKey: defaultsKey)
+
+                let fileMarkerEstablished: Bool
+                do {
+                    try fileStore.markPanicRecoveryPending()
+                    fileMarkerEstablished = true
+                } catch {
+                    fileMarkerEstablished = false
+                    SecureLogger.error(
+                        "Failed to persist file panic-recovery marker: \(error)",
+                        category: .security
+                    )
+                }
+
+                return PanicRecoveryIntent(
+                    fileMarkerEstablished: fileMarkerEstablished,
+                    externalMarkerEstablished: externalMarkerEstablished
+                )
+            },
+            wipeMedia: { intent in
+                try fileStore.panicWipe(
+                    hasDurablePendingMarker: intent.hasDurableMarker
+                )
+            },
+            complete: {
+                // Keep the independent defaults latch until the file marker
+                // has definitely cleared. Any failure therefore remains
+                // visible to the next launch.
+                try fileStore.completePanicRecovery()
+                defaults.removeObject(forKey: defaultsKey)
+                guard defaults.synchronize(),
+                      !defaults.bool(forKey: defaultsKey) else {
+                    throw BLEIncomingFileStore.PanicRecoveryError
+                        .externalMarkerCommitFailed
+                }
+            }
+        )
+    }
+}
+
 struct BLEIncomingFileStore {
+    enum PanicRecoveryError: Error {
+        case externalMarkerCommitFailed
+        case markerWriteFailed(Error)
+        case markerWriteAndMediaWipeFailed(
+            markerError: Error,
+            mediaError: Error
+        )
+    }
+
     private static let quotaBytes: Int64 = 100 * 1024 * 1024
+    /// Kept outside `files/` so deleting the media tree cannot erase the
+    /// fail-closed startup decision before the full panic has committed.
+    private static let panicRecoveryPendingMarkerFileName =
+        ".panic-recovery-pending"
+    /// Compatibility with a short-lived development build that used the
+    /// media-specific name for the same full-transaction latch.
+    private static let legacyPanicRecoveryPendingMarkerFileName =
+        ".panic-media-wipe-pending"
     private static let mediaSubdirectories = [
         "voicenotes/incoming",
         "voicenotes/outgoing",
@@ -25,28 +133,96 @@ struct BLEIncomingFileStore {
     let fileManager: FileManager
     private let baseDirectory: URL?
     private let dateProvider: () -> Date
+    private let panicMarkerWriter: (Data, URL) throws -> Void
 
-    init(fileManager: FileManager = .default, baseDirectory: URL? = nil, dateProvider: @escaping () -> Date = Date.init) {
+    init(
+        fileManager: FileManager = .default,
+        baseDirectory: URL? = nil,
+        dateProvider: @escaping () -> Date = Date.init,
+        panicMarkerWriter: @escaping (Data, URL) throws -> Void = {
+            try $0.write(to: $1, options: .atomic)
+        }
+    ) {
         self.fileManager = fileManager
         self.baseDirectory = baseDirectory
         self.dateProvider = dateProvider
+        self.panicMarkerWriter = panicMarkerWriter
     }
 
     /// Panic-wipe every managed incoming and outgoing media artifact before
     /// returning. Recreating the directory tree keeps later capture/receive
     /// paths usable without allowing a detached cleanup task to race them.
-    func panicWipe() throws {
+    ///
-        let filesDirectory = try rootDirectory().appendingPathComponent("files", isDirectory: true)
+    /// Marker persistence and deletion are deliberately separate error
-        if fileManager.fileExists(atPath: filesDirectory.path) {
+    /// domains: even when both durable marker channels fail, deletion is
-            try fileManager.removeItem(at: filesDirectory)
+    /// still attempted before this method reports the marker failure.
-        }
+    func panicWipe(
-        for subdirectory in Self.mediaSubdirectories {
+        hasDurablePendingMarker: Bool = false
-            try fileManager.createDirectory(
+    ) throws {
-                at: filesDirectory.appendingPathComponent(subdirectory, isDirectory: true),
+        let markerError: Error?
-                withIntermediateDirectories: true,
+        do {
-                attributes: nil
+            try markPanicRecoveryPending()
+            markerError = nil
+        } catch {
+            markerError = error
+            SecureLogger.error(
+                "Could not persist file panic-recovery marker; attempting media deletion anyway: \(error)",
+                category: .security
             )
         }
+
+        do {
+            let filesDirectory = try rootDirectory()
+                .appendingPathComponent("files", isDirectory: true)
+            if fileManager.fileExists(atPath: filesDirectory.path) {
+                try fileManager.removeItem(at: filesDirectory)
+            }
+            for subdirectory in Self.mediaSubdirectories {
+                try fileManager.createDirectory(
+                    at: filesDirectory.appendingPathComponent(
+                        subdirectory,
+                        isDirectory: true
+                    ),
+                    withIntermediateDirectories: true,
+                    attributes: nil
+                )
+            }
+        } catch {
+            if let markerError {
+                throw PanicRecoveryError.markerWriteAndMediaWipeFailed(
+                    markerError: markerError,
+                    mediaError: error
+                )
+            }
+            throw error
+        }
+
+        if let markerError, !hasDurablePendingMarker {
+            throw PanicRecoveryError.markerWriteFailed(markerError)
+        }
+    }
+
+    func markPanicRecoveryPending() throws {
+        let markerURL = try panicRecoveryPendingMarkerURL()
+        try fileManager.createDirectory(
+            at: markerURL.deletingLastPathComponent(),
+            withIntermediateDirectories: true,
+            attributes: nil
+        )
+        try panicMarkerWriter(Data([1]), markerURL)
+    }
+
+    func isPanicRecoveryPending() throws -> Bool {
+        try panicRecoveryMarkerURLs().contains {
+            fileManager.fileExists(atPath: $0.path)
+        }
+    }
+
+    func completePanicRecovery() throws {
+        for markerURL in try panicRecoveryMarkerURLs()
+        where fileManager.fileExists(atPath: markerURL.path) {
+            try fileManager.removeItem(at: markerURL)
+        }
     }
 
     /// Resolves (and creates) an incoming-media directory for callers that
@@ -152,6 +328,27 @@ struct BLEIncomingFileStore {
         )
     }
 
+    private func panicRecoveryPendingMarkerURL() throws -> URL {
+        try rootDirectory().appendingPathComponent(
+            Self.panicRecoveryPendingMarkerFileName,
+            isDirectory: false
+        )
+    }
+
+    private func panicRecoveryMarkerURLs() throws -> [URL] {
+        let root = try rootDirectory()
+        return [
+            root.appendingPathComponent(
+                Self.panicRecoveryPendingMarkerFileName,
+                isDirectory: false
+            ),
+            root.appendingPathComponent(
+                Self.legacyPanicRecoveryPendingMarkerFileName,
+                isDirectory: false
+            )
+        ]
+    }
+
     private func sanitizedFileName(_ name: String?, defaultName: String, fallbackExtension: String?) -> String {
         var candidate = (name ?? "")
             .replacingOccurrences(of: "\0", with: "")

bitchat/Services/BLE/BLEService.swift

@@ -155,6 +155,10 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     private var centralManager: CBCentralManager?
     private var peripheralManager: CBPeripheralManager?
     private var characteristic: CBMutableCharacteristic?
+    private let shouldInitializeBluetoothManagers: Bool
+    private let panicLifecycleLock = NSLock()
+    private var _isPanicSuspended: Bool
+    private var panicLifecycleGeneration: UInt64 = 0
     
     // MARK: - Identity
     
@@ -275,10 +279,13 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         keychain: KeychainManagerProtocol,
         idBridge: NostrIdentityBridge,
         identityManager: SecureIdentityStateManagerProtocol,
-        initializeBluetoothManagers: Bool = true
+        initializeBluetoothManagers: Bool = true,
+        startSuspendedForPanicRecovery: Bool = false
     ) {
         self.keychain = keychain
         self.idBridge = idBridge
+        self.shouldInitializeBluetoothManagers = initializeBluetoothManagers
+        self._isPanicSuspended = startSuspendedForPanicRecovery
         noiseService = NoiseEncryptionService(keychain: keychain)
         self.identityManager = identityManager
         super.init()
@@ -327,37 +334,90 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         // any access from another queue (cross-queue reads use readLinkState).
         linkStateStore.assumeOwnership(of: bleQueue)
 
-        if initializeBluetoothManagers {
+        if !startSuspendedForPanicRecovery {
-            // Initialize BLE on background queue to prevent main thread blocking.
+            initializeBluetoothManagersIfNeeded()
-            #if os(iOS)
-            let centralOptions: [String: Any] = [
-                CBCentralManagerOptionRestoreIdentifierKey: BLEService.centralRestorationID
-            ]
-            centralManager = CBCentralManager(delegate: self, queue: bleQueue, options: centralOptions)
-
-            let peripheralOptions: [String: Any] = [
-                CBPeripheralManagerOptionRestoreIdentifierKey: BLEService.peripheralRestorationID
-            ]
-            peripheralManager = CBPeripheralManager(delegate: self, queue: bleQueue, options: peripheralOptions)
-            #else
-            centralManager = CBCentralManager(delegate: self, queue: bleQueue)
-            peripheralManager = CBPeripheralManager(delegate: self, queue: bleQueue)
-            #endif
         }
         
         // Single maintenance timer for all periodic tasks (dispatch-based for
         // determinism). Only run it when real Bluetooth managers exist.
         meshBackgroundEnabled = initializeBluetoothManagers
-        startMaintenanceTimer()
+        if !startSuspendedForPanicRecovery {
+            startMaintenanceTimer()
+        }
 
         // Publish initial empty state
         requestPeerDataPublish()
 
         // Initialize gossip sync manager
-        restartGossipManager()
+        if !startSuspendedForPanicRecovery {
+            restartGossipManager()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private var isPanicSuspended: Bool {
+        panicLifecycleLock.lock()
+        defer { panicLifecycleLock.unlock() }
+        return _isPanicSuspended
+    }
+
+    private func setPanicSuspended(_ suspended: Bool) {
+        panicLifecycleLock.lock()
+        if suspended {
+            panicLifecycleGeneration &+= 1
+        }
+        _isPanicSuspended = suspended
+        panicLifecycleLock.unlock()
+    }
+
+    private func capturePanicLifecycleGeneration() -> UInt64? {
+        panicLifecycleLock.lock()
+        defer { panicLifecycleLock.unlock() }
+        return _isPanicSuspended ? nil : panicLifecycleGeneration
+    }
+
+    private func isCurrentPanicLifecycleGeneration(_ generation: UInt64) -> Bool {
+        panicLifecycleLock.lock()
+        defer { panicLifecycleLock.unlock() }
+        return !_isPanicSuspended && panicLifecycleGeneration == generation
+    }
+
+    private func initializeBluetoothManagersIfNeeded() {
+        guard shouldInitializeBluetoothManagers,
+              centralManager == nil,
+              peripheralManager == nil,
+              !isPanicSuspended else { return }
+
+        // Initialize BLE on its dedicated delegate queue. On iOS, retain the
+        // restoration identifiers even when construction was deferred by a
+        // pending panic-recovery latch.
+        #if os(iOS)
+        let centralOptions: [String: Any] = [
+            CBCentralManagerOptionRestoreIdentifierKey:
+                BLEService.centralRestorationID
+        ]
+        centralManager = CBCentralManager(
+            delegate: self,
+            queue: bleQueue,
+            options: centralOptions
+        )
+
+        let peripheralOptions: [String: Any] = [
+            CBPeripheralManagerOptionRestoreIdentifierKey:
+                BLEService.peripheralRestorationID
+        ]
+        peripheralManager = CBPeripheralManager(
+            delegate: self,
+            queue: bleQueue,
+            options: peripheralOptions
+        )
+        #else
+        centralManager = CBCentralManager(delegate: self, queue: bleQueue)
+        peripheralManager = CBPeripheralManager(delegate: self, queue: bleQueue)
+        #endif
     }
     
     private func restartGossipManager() {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         // Stop existing
         gossipSyncManager?.stop()
         
@@ -416,7 +476,35 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         #endif
     }
 
-    func resetIdentityForPanic(currentNickname: String) {
+    /// Close radio admission before application state starts disappearing.
+    /// CoreBluetooth callbacks consult the same gate and cannot restart scan
+    /// or advertising while the full panic transaction is incomplete.
+    func suspendForPanicReset() {
+        setPanicSuspended(true)
+        gossipSyncManager?.stop()
+        gossipSyncManager = nil
+        // Wait out sends that passed admission before the gate closed. Work
+        // queued behind this barrier observes `isPanicSuspended` and exits,
+        // so the radio stop below is a true synchronous boundary.
+        messageQueue.sync(flags: .barrier) {}
+        stopServicesImmediatelyForPanic()
+        clearEmergencySessionState()
+    }
+
+    /// Reopen the radio only after media deletion and recovery-marker commit.
+    func completePanicReset(restartServices: Bool) {
+        setPanicSuspended(false)
+        guard restartServices else { return }
+        startServices()
+        sendAnnounce(forceSend: true)
+    }
+
+    func resetIdentityForPanic(
+        currentNickname: String,
+        restartServices: Bool = true
+    ) {
+        gossipSyncManager?.stop()
+        gossipSyncManager = nil
         messageQueue.sync(flags: .barrier) {
             pendingNoiseSessionQueues.removeAll()
         }
@@ -460,16 +548,19 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
             configureNoiseServiceCallbacks(for: newNoise)
             refreshPeerIdentity()
         }
-        restartGossipManager()
+        // Keep the transport silent until the application-level transaction
-
+        // has also removed its media and committed both recovery markers.
-        setNickname(currentNickname)
+        myNickname = currentNickname
-
         messageDeduplicator.reset()
         messageQueue.async(flags: .barrier) { [weak self] in
             self?.selfBroadcastTracker.removeAll()
         }
         requestPeerDataPublish()
-        startServices()
+        if restartServices {
+            restartGossipManager()
+            startServices()
+            sendAnnounce(forceSend: true)
+        }
     }
     
     // Ensure this runs on message queue to avoid main thread blocking
@@ -481,6 +572,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
             }
             return
         }
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         
         guard content.count <= maxMessageLength else {
             SecureLogger.error("Message too long: \(content.count) chars", category: .session)
@@ -562,7 +654,9 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     /// `startServices()` — the latter matters after a panic reset, where
     /// `stopServices()` cancels and nils the timer.
     private func startMaintenanceTimer() {
-        guard meshBackgroundEnabled, maintenanceTimer == nil else { return }
+        guard !isPanicSuspended,
+              meshBackgroundEnabled,
+              maintenanceTimer == nil else { return }
         let timer = DispatchSource.makeTimerSource(queue: bleQueue)
         timer.schedule(deadline: .now() + TransportConfig.bleMaintenanceInterval,
                        repeating: TransportConfig.bleMaintenanceInterval,
@@ -575,6 +669,12 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     }
 
     func startServices() {
+        guard let lifecycleGeneration =
+                capturePanicLifecycleGeneration() else { return }
+        initializeBluetoothManagersIfNeeded()
+        if gossipSyncManager == nil {
+            restartGossipManager()
+        }
         // Restart the maintenance timer if a prior stopServices() cancelled it
         // (e.g. the panic flow), otherwise periodic announces, peer reconciliation
         // and cache cleanup would never resume until app restart.
@@ -591,7 +691,11 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         // Send initial announce after services are ready
         // Use longer delay to avoid conflicts with other announces
         messageQueue.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + TransportConfig.bleInitialAnnounceDelaySeconds) { [weak self] in
-            self?.sendAnnounce(forceSend: true)
+            guard let self,
+                  self.isCurrentPanicLifecycleGeneration(
+                    lifecycleGeneration
+                  ) else { return }
+            self.sendAnnounce(forceSend: true)
         }
     }
     
@@ -660,9 +764,36 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Panic cannot spend its security boundary sending a signed LEAVE or
+    /// pumping the main run loop. Close the radio and timers immediately;
+    /// the identity/session cleanup follows synchronously.
+    private func stopServicesImmediatelyForPanic() {
+        collectionsQueue.sync(flags: .barrier) {
+            pendingNotifications.removeAll()
+        }
+
+        maintenanceTimer?.cancel()
+        maintenanceTimer = nil
+        scanDutyTimer?.cancel()
+        scanDutyTimer = nil
+
+        centralManager?.stopScan()
+        peripheralManager?.stopAdvertising()
+
+        let peripheralsToDisconnect = bleQueue.sync {
+            linkStateStore.peripheralStates
+        }
+        for state in peripheralsToDisconnect {
+            centralManager?.cancelPeripheralConnection(state.peripheral)
+        }
+    }
+    
     func emergencyDisconnectAll() {
         stopServices()
+        clearEmergencySessionState()
+    }
 
+    private func clearEmergencySessionState() {
         // Clear all sessions and peers
         let cancelledTransfers: [(id: String, items: [DispatchWorkItem])] = collectionsQueue.sync(flags: .barrier) {
             let entries = outboundFragmentTransfers.removeAll().map { ($0.id, $0.workItems) }
@@ -899,6 +1030,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     func sendFileBroadcast(_ filePacket: BitchatFilePacket, transferId: String) {
         messageQueue.async { [weak self] in
             guard let self = self else { return }
+            guard !self.isPanicSuspended else { return }
             guard let payload = filePacket.encode() else {
                 SecureLogger.error("❌ Failed to encode file packet for broadcast", category: .session)
                 return
@@ -935,6 +1067,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     func sendFilePrivate(_ filePacket: BitchatFilePacket, to peerID: PeerID, transferId: String) {
         messageQueue.async { [weak self] in
             guard let self = self else { return }
+            guard !self.isPanicSuspended else { return }
             guard let payload = filePacket.encode() else {
                 SecureLogger.error("❌ Failed to encode file packet for private send", category: .session)
                 return
@@ -1088,6 +1221,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     // MARK: - Packet Broadcasting
     
     private func broadcastPacket(_ packet: BitchatPacket, transferId: String? = nil) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         // Apply route if recipient exists (centralized route application)
         let packetToSend: BitchatPacket
         if let recipientPeerID = PeerID(hexData: packet.recipientID) {
@@ -1169,8 +1303,10 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     }
 
     private func enqueuePendingNotification(data: Data, centrals: [CBCentral]?, context: String, attempt: Int = 0) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         collectionsQueue.async(flags: .barrier) { [weak self] in
             guard let self = self else { return }
+            guard !self.isPanicSuspended else { return }
             let result = self.pendingNotifications.enqueue(
                 data: data,
                 targets: centrals,
@@ -1271,6 +1407,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         requireDirectPeerLink: Bool = false,
         requireNoiseAuthenticatedPeerLink: Bool = false
     ) -> Bool {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return false }
         let ingressRecord = collectionsQueue.sync { ingressLinks.record(for: packet) }
         var excludedPeerLinks = links(to: ingressRecord?.peerID)
         if requireNoiseAuthenticatedPeerLink {
@@ -1421,6 +1558,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     }
 
     private func flushDirectedSpool() {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         // Move items out and attempt broadcast; if still no links, they'll be re-spooled
         let toSend = collectionsQueue.sync(flags: .barrier) {
             pendingDirectedRelays.drainUnexpired(
@@ -1637,6 +1775,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         }
     }
     private func sendAnnounce(forceSend: Bool = false) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         // Throttle announces to prevent flooding
         if !announceThrottle.shouldSend(force: forceSend, now: Date()) {
             return
@@ -1846,6 +1985,13 @@ extension BLEService: CBCentralManagerDelegate {
     #if os(iOS)
     func centralManager(_ central: CBCentralManager, willRestoreState dict: [String: Any]) {
         let restoredPeripherals = (dict[CBCentralManagerRestoredStatePeripheralsKey] as? [CBPeripheral]) ?? []
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else {
+            central.stopScan()
+            restoredPeripherals.forEach {
+                central.cancelPeripheralConnection($0)
+            }
+            return
+        }
         let restoredServices = (dict[CBCentralManagerRestoredStateScanServicesKey] as? [CBUUID]) ?? []
         let restoredOptions = (dict[CBCentralManagerRestoredStateScanOptionsKey] as? [String: Any]) ?? [:]
         let allowDuplicates = restoredOptions[CBCentralManagerScanOptionAllowDuplicatesKey] as? Bool
@@ -1901,6 +2047,10 @@ extension BLEService: CBCentralManagerDelegate {
 
         switch central.state {
         case .poweredOn:
+            guard !isPanicSuspended else {
+                central.stopScan()
+                return
+            }
             // Links restored as connected have no characteristic in the new
             // process; without rediscovery they sit connected-but-unusable
             // until the peer disconnects. Runs here (not willRestoreState)
@@ -1957,7 +2107,8 @@ extension BLEService: CBCentralManagerDelegate {
     }
     
     private func startScanning() {
-        guard let central = centralManager,
+        guard !isPanicSuspended,
+              let central = centralManager,
               central.state == .poweredOn,
               !central.isScanning else { return }
         
@@ -1978,6 +2129,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBCentralManagerDelegate {
     }
     
     func centralManager(_ central: CBCentralManager, didDiscover peripheral: CBPeripheral, advertisementData: [String: Any], rssi RSSI: NSNumber) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         let peripheralID = peripheral.identifier.uuidString
         let advertisedName = advertisementData[CBAdvertisementDataLocalNameKey] as? String ?? (peripheralID.prefix(6) + "…")
         let isConnectable = (advertisementData[CBAdvertisementDataIsConnectable] as? NSNumber)?.boolValue ?? true
@@ -2019,6 +2171,10 @@ extension BLEService: CBCentralManagerDelegate {
     }
     
     func centralManager(_ central: CBCentralManager, didConnect peripheral: CBPeripheral) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else {
+            central.cancelPeripheralConnection(peripheral)
+            return
+        }
         let peripheralID = peripheral.identifier.uuidString
 
         #if os(iOS)
@@ -2169,7 +2325,9 @@ private extension CBPeripheralState {
 
 extension BLEService {
     private func tryConnectFromQueue() {
-        guard let central = centralManager, central.state == .poweredOn else { return }
+        guard !isPanicSuspended,
+              let central = centralManager,
+              central.state == .poweredOn else { return }
 
         let decision = connectionScheduler.nextCandidate(
             connectedOrConnectingCount: linkStateStore.connectedOrConnectingPeripheralCount,
@@ -2195,6 +2353,7 @@ extension BLEService {
         using central: CBCentralManager,
         logPrefix: String
     ) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         let peripheral = candidate.peripheral
         let peripheralID = candidate.peripheralID
         linkStateStore.beginConnecting(to: peripheral, at: Date())
@@ -2376,6 +2535,7 @@ extension BLEService {
 
 extension BLEService: CBPeripheralDelegate {
     func peripheral(_ peripheral: CBPeripheral, didDiscoverServices error: Error?) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         if let error = error {
             SecureLogger.error("❌ Error discovering services for \(peripheral.name ?? "Unknown"): \(error.localizedDescription)", category: .session)
             // Retry service discovery after a delay
@@ -2402,6 +2562,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralDelegate {
     }
     
     func peripheral(_ peripheral: CBPeripheral, didDiscoverCharacteristicsFor service: CBService, error: Error?) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         if let error = error {
             SecureLogger.error("❌ Error discovering characteristics for \(peripheral.name ?? "Unknown"): \(error.localizedDescription)", category: .session)
             return
@@ -2449,6 +2610,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralDelegate {
     }
     
     func peripheral(_ peripheral: CBPeripheral, didUpdateValueFor characteristic: CBCharacteristic, error: Error?) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         if let error = error {
             SecureLogger.error("❌ Error receiving notification: \(error.localizedDescription)", category: .session)
             return
@@ -2566,6 +2728,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralDelegate {
     }
     
     func peripheralIsReady(toSendWriteWithoutResponse peripheral: CBPeripheral) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         // Resume queued writes for this peripheral - called when canSendWriteWithoutResponse becomes true again
         if logRateLimiter.shouldLog(key: "peripheral-ready:\(peripheral.identifier.uuidString)") {
             SecureLogger.debug("📤 Peripheral \(peripheral.name ?? peripheral.identifier.uuidString.prefix(8).description) ready for more writes", category: .session)
@@ -2574,6 +2737,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralDelegate {
     }
     
     func peripheral(_ peripheral: CBPeripheral, didModifyServices invalidatedServices: [CBService]) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         SecureLogger.warning("⚠️ Services modified for \(peripheral.name ?? peripheral.identifier.uuidString)", category: .session)
 
         let shouldRediscover = BLEService.shouldRediscoverBitChatService(
@@ -2594,6 +2758,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralDelegate {
     }
     
     func peripheral(_ peripheral: CBPeripheral, didUpdateNotificationStateFor characteristic: CBCharacteristic, error: Error?) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         if let error = error {
             SecureLogger.error("❌ Error updating notification state: \(error.localizedDescription)", category: .session)
         } else {
@@ -2617,6 +2782,12 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
 
         switch peripheral.state {
         case .poweredOn:
+            guard !isPanicSuspended else {
+                peripheral.stopAdvertising()
+                peripheral.removeAllServices()
+                characteristic = nil
+                return
+            }
             // Remove all services first to ensure clean state
             peripheral.removeAllServices()
 
@@ -2677,6 +2848,12 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
     
     #if os(iOS)
     func peripheralManager(_ peripheral: CBPeripheralManager, willRestoreState dict: [String: Any]) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else {
+            peripheral.stopAdvertising()
+            peripheral.removeAllServices()
+            characteristic = nil
+            return
+        }
         let restoredServices = (dict[CBPeripheralManagerRestoredStateServicesKey] as? [CBMutableService]) ?? []
         let restoredAdvertisement = (dict[CBPeripheralManagerRestoredStateAdvertisementDataKey] as? [String: Any]) ?? [:]
 
@@ -2703,6 +2880,10 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
     #endif
     
     func peripheralManager(_ peripheral: CBPeripheralManager, didAdd service: CBService, error: Error?) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else {
+            peripheral.stopAdvertising()
+            return
+        }
         if let error = error {
             SecureLogger.error("❌ Failed to add service: \(error.localizedDescription)", category: .session)
             return
@@ -2718,6 +2899,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
     }
     
     func peripheralManager(_ peripheral: CBPeripheralManager, central: CBCentral, didSubscribeTo characteristic: CBCharacteristic) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         let centralUUID = central.identifier.uuidString
         SecureLogger.debug("📥 Central subscribed: \(centralUUID.prefix(8))…", category: .session)
         linkStateStore.addSubscribedCentral(central)
@@ -2759,7 +2941,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
         let removedPeerID = linkStateStore.removeSubscribedCentral(central)
         
         // Ensure we're still advertising for other devices to find us
-        if peripheral.isAdvertising == false {
+        if !isPanicSuspended, peripheral.isAdvertising == false {
             SecureLogger.debug("📡 Restarting advertising after central unsubscribed", category: .session)
             peripheral.startAdvertising(buildAdvertisementData())
         }
@@ -2796,6 +2978,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
     }
     
     func peripheralManagerIsReady(toUpdateSubscribers peripheral: CBPeripheralManager) {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         drainPendingNotifications(logPrefix: "✅ Sent")
     }
 
@@ -2856,6 +3039,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
         for request in requests {
             peripheral.respond(to: request, withResult: .success)
         }
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         
         // Process writes. For long writes, CoreBluetooth may deliver multiple CBATTRequest values with offsets.
         // Combine per-central request values by offset before decoding.
@@ -4138,6 +4322,7 @@ extension BLEService {
         let uuid = peripheral.identifier.uuidString
         bleQueue.async { [weak self] in
             guard let self = self else { return }
+            guard !self.isPanicSuspended else { return }
             guard let state = self.linkStateStore.state(forPeripheralID: uuid), let ch = state.characteristic else { return }
 
             // Atomically take all pending items from the queue to avoid race conditions
@@ -4228,7 +4413,10 @@ extension BLEService {
         slotReserve: Int = TransportConfig.bleBackgroundPendingConnectSlotReserve
     ) {
         bleQueue.async { [weak self] in
-            guard let self, let central = self.centralManager, central.state == .poweredOn else { return }
+            guard let self,
+                  !self.isPanicSuspended,
+                  let central = self.centralManager,
+                  central.state == .poweredOn else { return }
             let budget = TransportConfig.bleMaxCentralLinks
                 - slotReserve
                 - self.linkStateStore.connectedOrConnectingPeripheralCount
@@ -5535,6 +5723,7 @@ extension BLEService {
     // MARK: Consolidated Maintenance
     
     private func performMaintenance() {
+        guard !isPanicSuspended else { return }
         maintenanceCounter += 1
         lastMaintenanceAt = Date()
 

bitchat/Services/GeohashPresenceService.swift

@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ final class GeohashPresenceService: ObservableObject {
 
     private var subscriptions = Set<AnyCancellable>()
     private var heartbeatTimer: GeohashPresenceTimerProtocol?
+    private var pendingBroadcastTasks: [UUID: Task<Void, Never>] = [:]
+    private var heartbeatGeneration: UInt64 = 0
+    private var started = false
     private let availableChannelsProvider: () -> [GeohashChannel]
     private let locationChanges: AnyPublisher<[GeohashChannel], Never>
     private let torReadyPublisher: AnyPublisher<Void, Never>
@@ -147,10 +150,25 @@ final class GeohashPresenceService: ObservableObject {
     
     /// Start the service (safe to call multiple times)
     func start() {
+        guard !started else { return }
+        started = true
+        heartbeatGeneration &+= 1
         SecureLogger.info("Presence: service starting...", category: .session)
         scheduleNextHeartbeat()
     }
 
+    /// Stops the timer and every decorrelation task synchronously at the panic
+    /// boundary. Generation checks also protect against custom sleepers that
+    /// ignore task cancellation and return later.
+    func stopForPanic() {
+        started = false
+        heartbeatGeneration &+= 1
+        heartbeatTimer?.invalidate()
+        heartbeatTimer = nil
+        pendingBroadcastTasks.values.forEach { $0.cancel() }
+        pendingBroadcastTasks.removeAll(keepingCapacity: false)
+    }
+
     private func setupObservers() {
         // Monitor location channel changes
         locationChanges
@@ -169,20 +187,26 @@ final class GeohashPresenceService: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     func handleLocationChange() {
+        guard started else { return }
         // When location changes, we trigger an immediate (but slightly delayed) heartbeat
         // to announce presence in the new zone, then reset the loop.
         SecureLogger.debug("Presence: location changed, scheduling update", category: .session)
         heartbeatTimer?.invalidate()
         
         // Small delay to allow location state to settle
+        let generation = heartbeatGeneration
         heartbeatTimer = scheduleTimer(5.0) { [weak self] in
             Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
-                self?.performHeartbeat()
+                guard let self,
+                      self.started,
+                      self.heartbeatGeneration == generation else { return }
+                self.performHeartbeat()
             }
         }
     }
     
     func handleConnectivityChange() {
+        guard started else { return }
         SecureLogger.debug("Presence: connectivity restored, triggering heartbeat", category: .session)
         // If we were waiting for network, do it now
         if heartbeatTimer == nil || !heartbeatTimer!.isValid {
@@ -191,18 +215,29 @@ final class GeohashPresenceService: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     func scheduleNextHeartbeat() {
+        guard started else { return }
         heartbeatTimer?.invalidate()
         let interval = TimeInterval.random(in: loopMinInterval...loopMaxInterval)
+        let generation = heartbeatGeneration
         heartbeatTimer = scheduleTimer(interval) { [weak self] in
             Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
-                self?.performHeartbeat()
+                guard let self,
+                      self.started,
+                      self.heartbeatGeneration == generation else { return }
+                self.performHeartbeat()
             }
         }
     }
 
     func performHeartbeat() {
+        guard started else { return }
+        let generation = heartbeatGeneration
         // Always schedule next loop first ensures continuity even if this one fails/skips
-        defer { scheduleNextHeartbeat() }
+        defer {
+            if started, heartbeatGeneration == generation {
+                scheduleNextHeartbeat()
+            }
+        }
 
         // 1. Check preconditions
         guard torIsReady() else {
@@ -228,14 +263,27 @@ final class GeohashPresenceService: ObservableObject {
             }
             
             // Launch independent task for each channel's delay
-            Task { @MainActor in
+            let taskID = UUID()
+            let sleeper = self.sleeper
+            let delay = TimeInterval.random(
+                in: burstMinDelay...burstMaxDelay
+            )
+            let nanoseconds = UInt64(delay * 1_000_000_000)
+            let task = Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
                 // Random delay for decorrelation
-                let delay = TimeInterval.random(in: self.burstMinDelay...self.burstMaxDelay)
+                await sleeper(nanoseconds)
-                let nanoseconds = UInt64(delay * 1_000_000_000)
-                await self.sleeper(nanoseconds)
 
+                guard let self else { return }
+                guard !Task.isCancelled,
+                      self.started,
+                      self.heartbeatGeneration == generation else {
+                    self.pendingBroadcastTasks.removeValue(forKey: taskID)
+                    return
+                }
+                self.pendingBroadcastTasks.removeValue(forKey: taskID)
                 self.broadcastPresence(for: channel.geohash)
             }
+            pendingBroadcastTasks[taskID] = task
         }
     }
 

bitchat/Services/NetworkActivationService.swift

@@ -154,6 +154,19 @@ final class NetworkActivationService: ObservableObject {
             .store(in: &cancellables)
     }
 
+    /// Stops all internet-facing work at the synchronous panic boundary.
+    /// `start()` may be called again only after the full wipe commits.
+    func stopForPanic() {
+        cancellables.removeAll()
+        started = false
+        reachabilityMonitor.stop()
+        activationAllowed = false
+        torAutoStartDesired = false
+        relayController.disconnect()
+        torController.setAutoStartAllowed(false)
+        applyTorState(torDesired: false)
+    }
+
     func setUserTorEnabled(_ enabled: Bool) {
         guard enabled != userTorEnabled else { return }
         userTorEnabled = enabled
@@ -167,6 +180,7 @@ final class NetworkActivationService: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     private func reevaluate() {
+        guard started else { return }
         let allowed = effectiveAllowed()
         let torDesired = allowed && userTorEnabled
         let statusChanged = allowed != activationAllowed

bitchat/Services/NetworkReachabilityMonitor.swift

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ protocol NetworkReachabilityMonitoring: AnyObject {
     var reachabilityPublisher: AnyPublisher<Bool, Never> { get }
     /// Begin monitoring. Idempotent.
     func start()
+    /// Stop monitoring and discard pending debounce work. Idempotent.
+    func stop()
 }
 
 /// Pure debounce/decision logic for reachability, split out so it can be
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@ final class AlwaysReachableMonitor: NetworkReachabilityMonitoring {
         Empty(completeImmediately: false).eraseToAnyPublisher()
     }
     func start() {}
+    func stop() {}
 }
 
 /// `NWPathMonitor`-backed reachability. All state lives on the main actor; the
@@ -146,6 +149,18 @@ final class NWPathReachabilityMonitor: NetworkReachabilityMonitoring {
         #endif
     }
 
+    func stop() {
+        guard started else { return }
+        started = false
+        flushWorkItem?.cancel()
+        flushWorkItem = nil
+        #if canImport(Network)
+        monitor?.pathUpdateHandler = nil
+        monitor?.cancel()
+        monitor = nil
+        #endif
+    }
+
     /// Feed an observation into the debounce and publish committed changes.
     /// Exposed internally so higher layers/tests could drive it if needed.
     func ingest(reachable: Bool) {

bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift

@@ -89,6 +89,26 @@ import UIKit
 #endif
 import UniformTypeIdentifiers
 
+struct PanicNetworkLifecycle {
+    let stop: @MainActor () -> Void
+    let restart: @MainActor () -> Void
+
+    static let noop = PanicNetworkLifecycle(stop: {}, restart: {})
+
+    static var live: PanicNetworkLifecycle {
+        PanicNetworkLifecycle(
+            stop: {
+                GeohashPresenceService.shared.stopForPanic()
+                NetworkActivationService.shared.stopForPanic()
+            },
+            restart: {
+                NetworkActivationService.shared.start()
+                GeohashPresenceService.shared.start()
+            }
+        )
+    }
+}
+
 /// Manages the application state and business logic for BitChat.
 /// Acts as the primary coordinator between UI components and backend services,
 /// implementing the BitchatDelegate protocol to handle network events.
@@ -142,6 +162,8 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
     @Published var currentColorScheme: ColorScheme = .light
     @Published var currentTheme: AppTheme = .matrix
     @Published var isConnected = false
+    @Published private(set) var panicRecoveryBlocked = false
+    var networkActivationAllowed: Bool { !panicRecoveryBlocked }
     @Published var nickname: String = "" {
         didSet {
             // Trim whitespace whenever nickname is set; whitespace-only becomes ""
@@ -151,7 +173,7 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
                 return
             }
             // Update mesh service nickname if it's initialized
-            if !meshService.myPeerID.isEmpty {
+            if !isPanicResetting, !meshService.myPeerID.isEmpty {
                 meshService.setNickname(nickname)
             }
         }
@@ -295,7 +317,9 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
     var nostrRelayManager: NostrRelayManager?
     private let userDefaults = UserDefaults.standard
     let keychain: KeychainManagerProtocol
-    private let panicMediaWipe: () throws -> Void
+    private let panicRecoveryOperations: PanicRecoveryOperations
+    private let panicNetworkLifecycle: PanicNetworkLifecycle
+    private var isPanicResetting = false
     /// Private group membership: keys in the keychain, metadata on disk.
     let groupStore: GroupStore
     private let nicknameKey = "bitchat.nickname"
@@ -773,7 +797,34 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         locationPresenceStore: LocationPresenceStore? = nil,
         locationManager: LocationChannelManager = .shared
     ) {
-        let meshService = BLEService(keychain: keychain, idBridge: idBridge, identityManager: identityManager)
+        let livePanicRecoveryOperations = PanicRecoveryOperations.live()
+        let startSuspendedForRecovery: Bool
+        do {
+            startSuspendedForRecovery =
+                try livePanicRecoveryOperations.isPending()
+        } catch {
+            startSuspendedForRecovery = true
+        }
+        // Preserve the preflight decision used to defer CoreBluetooth. A
+        // transiently successful second read must not skip recovery and leave
+        // the service permanently suspended without running the wipe.
+        let panicRecoveryOperations = PanicRecoveryOperations(
+            isPending: {
+                if startSuspendedForRecovery {
+                    return true
+                }
+                return try livePanicRecoveryOperations.isPending()
+            },
+            begin: livePanicRecoveryOperations.begin,
+            wipeMedia: livePanicRecoveryOperations.wipeMedia,
+            complete: livePanicRecoveryOperations.complete
+        )
+        let meshService = BLEService(
+            keychain: keychain,
+            idBridge: idBridge,
+            identityManager: identityManager,
+            startSuspendedForPanicRecovery: startSuspendedForRecovery
+        )
         meshService.sfMetrics = .shared
         self.init(
             keychain: keychain,
@@ -785,7 +836,9 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
             locationPresenceStore: locationPresenceStore ?? LocationPresenceStore(),
             locationManager: locationManager,
             outboxStore: MessageOutboxStore(keychain: keychain),
-            sfMetrics: .shared
+            sfMetrics: .shared,
+            panicRecoveryOperations: panicRecoveryOperations,
+            panicNetworkLifecycle: .live
         )
     }
 
@@ -804,7 +857,9 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         readReceiptsDefaults: UserDefaults? = nil,
         outboxStore: MessageOutboxStore? = nil,
         sfMetrics: StoreAndForwardMetrics? = nil,
-        panicMediaWipe: (() throws -> Void)? = nil
+        panicMediaWipe: (() throws -> Void)? = nil,
+        panicRecoveryOperations: PanicRecoveryOperations? = nil,
+        panicNetworkLifecycle: PanicNetworkLifecycle = .noop
     ) {
         let conversations = conversations ?? ConversationStore()
         let peerIdentityStore = peerIdentityStore ?? PeerIdentityStore()
@@ -819,13 +874,9 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         )
 
         self.keychain = keychain
-        self.panicMediaWipe = panicMediaWipe ?? {
+        self.panicRecoveryOperations = panicRecoveryOperations
-            // Unit tests share the developer's real Application Support
+            ?? .ephemeral(wipeMedia: panicMediaWipe ?? {})
-            // directory. Production uses the managed store; tests that need
+        self.panicNetworkLifecycle = panicNetworkLifecycle
-            // to exercise the wipe inject a temporary-directory closure.
-            guard !TestEnvironment.isRunningTests else { return }
-            try BLEIncomingFileStore().panicWipe()
-        }
         self.groupStore = GroupStore(keychain: keychain)
         self.idBridge = idBridge
         self.identityManager = identityManager
@@ -861,7 +912,31 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
             }
             .store(in: &cancellables)
 
-        ChatViewModelBootstrapper(viewModel: self).configure()
+        let recoveryRequired: Bool
+        do {
+            recoveryRequired = try self.panicRecoveryOperations.isPending()
+        } catch {
+            // Failure to read the latch cannot fail open. Re-run the complete
+            // transaction; a persistent storage failure leaves services
+            // blocked below.
+            recoveryRequired = true
+            SecureLogger.error(
+                "Could not read panic-recovery state; retrying the full wipe before startup: \(error)",
+                category: .security
+            )
+        }
+
+        if recoveryRequired {
+            SecureLogger.warning(
+                "Pending panic recovery detected; wiping before runtime services start",
+                category: .security
+            )
+            _ = panicClearAllData(restartServices: false)
+        }
+
+        if networkActivationAllowed {
+            ChatViewModelBootstrapper(viewModel: self).configure()
+        }
     }
 
     // MARK: - Deinitialization
@@ -1165,8 +1240,28 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
 
     // PANIC: Emergency data clearing for activist safety
     @MainActor
-    func panicClearAllData() {
+    @discardableResult
-        // Messages are processed immediately - nothing to flush
+    func panicClearAllData(restartServices: Bool = true) -> Bool {
+        panicRecoveryBlocked = true
+        isPanicResetting = true
+        defer { isPanicResetting = false }
+
+        // Stop internet and location-presence work before clearing identity or
+        // state. These services cancel their subscriptions and delayed tasks,
+        // so old callbacks cannot reconnect during the transaction.
+        panicNetworkLifecycle.stop()
+
+        // Establish both independent durable intents before erasing anything.
+        // `wipeMedia` will still attempt deletion if neither write succeeds.
+        let recoveryIntent = panicRecoveryOperations.begin()
+
+        // Quiesce the mesh before clearing stores. Identity replacement below
+        // deliberately stays stopped until media deletion and marker commit.
+        if let bleService = meshService as? BLEService {
+            bleService.suspendForPanicReset()
+        } else {
+            meshService.emergencyDisconnectAll()
+        }
 
         // Invalidate detached media preparation and close live capture file
         // handles before clearing state or removing the media directory.
@@ -1193,7 +1288,7 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
 
         // Reset nickname to anonymous
         nickname = "anon\(Int.random(in: 1000...9999))"
-        saveNickname()
+        userDefaults.set(nickname, forKey: nicknameKey)
 
         // Clear favorites and peer mappings
         // Clear through SecureIdentityStateManager instead of directly
@@ -1265,46 +1360,34 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         // Clear Nostr identity associations
         idBridge.clearAllAssociations()
 
-        // Disconnect from all peers and clear persistent identity
+        // Replace the BLE identity while keeping the radio stopped. It may
-        // This will force creation of a new identity (new fingerprint) on next launch
+        // reopen only after the durable panic transaction commits.
-        meshService.emergencyDisconnectAll()
         if let bleService = meshService as? BLEService {
-            bleService.resetIdentityForPanic(currentNickname: nickname)
+            bleService.resetIdentityForPanic(
-        }
+                currentNickname: nickname,
-
+                restartServices: false
-        // No need to force UserDefaults synchronization
+            )
-
+        } else {
-        // Reinitialize Nostr with new identity
+            meshService.setNickname(nickname)
-        // This will generate new Nostr keys derived from new Noise keys.
-        // Skipped under tests: connecting the shared relay singleton starts
-        // real network/reconnect work that never completes and would keep the
-        // test process alive (the singleton, unlike a discardable instance, is
-        // never deallocated to cancel it).
-        if !TestEnvironment.isRunningTests {
-            Task { @MainActor in
-                // Small delay to ensure cleanup completes
-                try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: TransportConfig.uiAsyncShortSleepNs) // 0.1 seconds
-
-                // Reinitialize Nostr relay manager with new identity. Reuse the
-                // shared singleton — every other component (NostrTransport, geohash
-                // subscriptions, AppRuntime observers) is bound to `.shared`, so
-                // creating a fresh instance here would split relay state and leave
-                // sends running against a disconnected manager.
-                nostrRelayManager = NostrRelayManager.shared
-                setupNostrMessageHandling()
-                nostrRelayManager?.connect()
-            }
         }
 
         // The wipe must finish before this security action returns. A detached
         // task could otherwise lose a race with a new capture or app exit and
         // leave pre-panic media behind.
+        let panicCompleted: Bool
         do {
-            try panicMediaWipe()
+            try panicRecoveryOperations.wipeMedia(recoveryIntent)
+            try panicRecoveryOperations.complete()
+            panicCompleted = true
             SecureLogger.info("🗑️ Deleted all media files during panic clear", category: .session)
         } catch {
-            SecureLogger.error("Failed to clear media files during panic: \(error)", category: .session)
+            panicCompleted = false
+            SecureLogger.error(
+                "Panic transaction did not commit; services remain stopped: \(error)",
+                category: .security
+            )
         }
+        panicRecoveryBlocked = !panicCompleted
 
         // BCH-01-013: Clear iOS app switcher snapshots. Keep tests away from
         // the host user's real cache tree just as the default media wipe does.
@@ -1314,9 +1397,31 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         }
         #endif
 
-        // Force immediate UI update for panic mode
+        guard panicCompleted else { return false }
-        // UI updates immediately - no flushing needed
 
+        if let bleService = meshService as? BLEService {
+            // Startup recovery reopens admission but leaves actual service
+            // start to the bootstrapper immediately after this method.
+            bleService.completePanicReset(
+                restartServices: restartServices
+            )
+        }
+
+        if restartServices {
+            // All persistent state and media are gone. Bring each service back
+            // only now, under the new identity.
+            if !(meshService is BLEService) {
+                meshService.startServices()
+            }
+
+            if !TestEnvironment.isRunningTests {
+                nostrRelayManager = NostrRelayManager.shared
+                setupNostrMessageHandling()
+            }
+            panicNetworkLifecycle.restart()
+        }
+
+        return true
     }
 
     /// BCH-01-013: Clear iOS app switcher snapshots during panic mode

bitchat/ViewModels/VoiceRecordingViewModel.swift

@@ -188,8 +188,25 @@ final class VoiceRecordingViewModel: ObservableObject {
 
         Task {
             let finalDuration = Date().timeIntervalSince(startDate)
-            if let url = await session.finish(),
+            if let url = await session.finish() {
-               isValidRecording(at: url, duration: finalDuration) {
+                // Panic and a newer hold both invalidate this completion.
+                // Never route an old recording using a post-panic target.
+                guard generation == holdGeneration else {
+                    try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: url)
+                    return
+                }
+                guard isValidRecording(
+                    at: url,
+                    duration: finalDuration
+                ) else {
+                    guard state == .idle else { return }
+                    state = .error(
+                        message: finalDuration < VoiceRecorder.minRecordingDuration
+                        ? "Recording is too short."
+                        : "Recording failed to save."
+                    )
+                    return
+                }
                 completion(url)
             } else {
                 guard generation == holdGeneration, state == .idle else { return }
@@ -206,6 +223,17 @@ final class VoiceRecordingViewModel: ObservableObject {
         finish(completion: nil)
     }
 
+    /// Invalidates in-flight permission/start/finalize callbacks and tears
+    /// down an active microphone before the panic transaction continues.
+    func panicWipe() {
+        holdGeneration &+= 1
+        let session = activeSession
+        activeSession = nil
+        state = .idle
+        isLiveStreaming = false
+        session?.panicCancelSynchronously()
+    }
+
     private func isValidRecording(at url: URL, duration: TimeInterval) -> Bool {
         if let attributes = try? FileManager.default.attributesOfItem(atPath: url.path),
            let fileSize = attributes[.size] as? NSNumber,

bitchat/Views/ContentView.swift

@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                 voiceRecordingVM.sessionProvider = { [weak conversationUIModel] in
                     conversationUIModel?.makeVoiceCaptureSession() ?? VoiceNoteCaptureSession()
                 }
+                appChromeModel.setPanicPreparation { [weak voiceRecordingVM] in
+                    voiceRecordingVM?.panicWipe()
+                }
                 #if os(macOS)
                 DispatchQueue.main.async {
                     isNicknameFieldFocused = false
@@ -229,6 +232,7 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         }
         .onDisappear {
             autocompleteDebounceTimer?.invalidate()
+            appChromeModel.setPanicPreparation(nil)
         }
     }
 

bitchatTests/BLEServiceCoreTests.swift

@@ -572,6 +572,26 @@ struct BLEServiceCoreTests {
         #expect(ble.myPeerID == PeerID(str: newFingerprint.prefix(16)))
     }
 
+    @Test
+    func panicSuspension_dropsLateOutboundWorkUntilCommit() async {
+        let ble = makeService()
+        let outbound = OutboundPacketTap()
+        ble._test_onOutboundPacket = outbound.record
+        let packet = makePublicPacket(
+            content: "late callback",
+            sender: ble.myPeerID,
+            timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000)
+        )
+
+        ble.suspendForPanicReset()
+        ble.sendPacket(packet)
+        #expect(outbound.count(ofType: .message) == 0)
+
+        ble.completePanicReset(restartServices: false)
+        ble.sendPacket(packet)
+        #expect(outbound.count(ofType: .message) == 1)
+    }
+
     @Test
     func modifiedServices_rediscoverWhenBitChatServiceIsInvalidated() async throws {
         let otherService = CBUUID(string: "0000180F-0000-1000-8000-00805F9B34FB")

bitchatTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift

@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ import BitFoundation
 /// Creates a ChatViewModel with mock dependencies for testing
 @MainActor
 private func makeTestableViewModel(
-    panicMediaWipe: (() throws -> Void)? = nil
+    panicMediaWipe: (() throws -> Void)? = nil,
+    panicRecoveryOperations: PanicRecoveryOperations? = nil,
+    panicNetworkLifecycle: PanicNetworkLifecycle = .noop
 ) -> (viewModel: ChatViewModel, transport: MockTransport) {
     let keychain = MockKeychain()
     let keychainHelper = MockKeychainHelper()
@@ -29,7 +31,9 @@ private func makeTestableViewModel(
         idBridge: idBridge,
         identityManager: identityManager,
         transport: transport,
-        panicMediaWipe: panicMediaWipe
+        panicMediaWipe: panicMediaWipe,
+        panicRecoveryOperations: panicRecoveryOperations,
+        panicNetworkLifecycle: panicNetworkLifecycle
     )
 
     return (viewModel, transport)
@@ -1122,15 +1126,89 @@ struct ChatViewModelPanicTests {
     @Test @MainActor
     func panicClearAllData_finishesMediaWipeBeforeReturning() {
         var wipeFinished = false
-        let (viewModel, _) = makeTestableViewModel {
+        let (viewModel, _) = makeTestableViewModel(panicMediaWipe: {
             wipeFinished = true
-        }
+        })
 
         viewModel.panicClearAllData()
 
         #expect(wipeFinished)
     }
 
+    @Test @MainActor
+    func panicClearAllData_stopsNetworkBeforeWipeAndRestartsAfterCommit() {
+        var events: [String] = []
+        let lifecycle = PanicNetworkLifecycle(
+            stop: { events.append("stop") },
+            restart: { events.append("restart") }
+        )
+        let (viewModel, _) = makeTestableViewModel(
+            panicMediaWipe: { events.append("wipe") },
+            panicNetworkLifecycle: lifecycle
+        )
+
+        let completed = viewModel.panicClearAllData()
+
+        #expect(completed)
+        #expect(events == ["stop", "wipe", "restart"])
+        #expect(viewModel.networkActivationAllowed)
+    }
+
+    @Test @MainActor
+    func pendingPanicRecoveryCompletesBeforeTransportBootstrap() {
+        var events: [String] = []
+        let operations = PanicRecoveryOperations(
+            isPending: {
+                events.append("read")
+                return true
+            },
+            begin: {
+                events.append("begin")
+                return PanicRecoveryIntent(
+                    fileMarkerEstablished: true,
+                    externalMarkerEstablished: false
+                )
+            },
+            wipeMedia: { _ in events.append("wipe") },
+            complete: { events.append("complete") }
+        )
+
+        let (viewModel, transport) = makeTestableViewModel(
+            panicRecoveryOperations: operations
+        )
+
+        #expect(events == ["read", "begin", "wipe", "complete"])
+        #expect(transport.emergencyDisconnectCallCount == 1)
+        #expect(transport.startServicesCallCount == 1)
+        #expect(viewModel.networkActivationAllowed)
+    }
+
+    @Test @MainActor
+    func failedStartupRecoveryLeavesTransportAndNetworkBlocked() {
+        enum WipeFailure: Error { case failed }
+        var completedMarker = false
+        let operations = PanicRecoveryOperations(
+            isPending: { true },
+            begin: {
+                PanicRecoveryIntent(
+                    fileMarkerEstablished: true,
+                    externalMarkerEstablished: false
+                )
+            },
+            wipeMedia: { _ in throw WipeFailure.failed },
+            complete: { completedMarker = true }
+        )
+
+        let (viewModel, transport) = makeTestableViewModel(
+            panicRecoveryOperations: operations
+        )
+
+        #expect(!completedMarker)
+        #expect(transport.emergencyDisconnectCallCount == 1)
+        #expect(transport.startServicesCallCount == 0)
+        #expect(!viewModel.networkActivationAllowed)
+    }
+
     @Test @MainActor
     func panicClearAllData_delegatesToTransport() async {
         let (viewModel, transport) = makeTestableViewModel()

bitchatTests/Services/BLEFileTransferHandlerTests.swift

@@ -410,6 +410,92 @@ struct BLEFileTransferHandlerTests {
         }
     }
 
+    @Test
+    func panicWipeAttemptsDeletionWhenMarkerPersistenceFails() throws {
+        enum MarkerFailure: Error { case unavailable }
+
+        let base = FileManager.default.temporaryDirectory
+            .appendingPathComponent(
+                "panic-marker-failure-\(UUID().uuidString)",
+                isDirectory: true
+            )
+        defer { try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: base) }
+        let secret = base
+            .appendingPathComponent("files/images/outgoing", isDirectory: true)
+            .appendingPathComponent("secret.jpg")
+        try FileManager.default.createDirectory(
+            at: secret.deletingLastPathComponent(),
+            withIntermediateDirectories: true
+        )
+        try Data("secret".utf8).write(to: secret)
+        let store = BLEIncomingFileStore(
+            baseDirectory: base,
+            panicMarkerWriter: { _, _ in throw MarkerFailure.unavailable }
+        )
+
+        do {
+            try store.panicWipe(hasDurablePendingMarker: false)
+            Issue.record("Expected the missing durable marker to fail closed")
+        } catch {
+            // The marker error is reported only after the deletion attempt.
+        }
+
+        #expect(!FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: secret.path))
+        #expect(
+            FileManager.default.fileExists(
+                atPath: secret.deletingLastPathComponent().path
+            )
+        )
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    func externalMarkerAllowsDeletionToCommitWhenFileMarkerFails() throws {
+        enum MarkerFailure: Error { case unavailable }
+
+        let base = FileManager.default.temporaryDirectory
+            .appendingPathComponent(
+                "panic-external-marker-\(UUID().uuidString)",
+                isDirectory: true
+            )
+        defer { try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: base) }
+        let secret = base
+            .appendingPathComponent("files/voicenotes/incoming", isDirectory: true)
+            .appendingPathComponent("secret.m4a")
+        try FileManager.default.createDirectory(
+            at: secret.deletingLastPathComponent(),
+            withIntermediateDirectories: true
+        )
+        try Data("secret".utf8).write(to: secret)
+        let store = BLEIncomingFileStore(
+            baseDirectory: base,
+            panicMarkerWriter: { _, _ in throw MarkerFailure.unavailable }
+        )
+
+        try store.panicWipe(hasDurablePendingMarker: true)
+
+        #expect(!FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: secret.path))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    func panicRecoveryMarkerPersistsUntilExplicitCommit() throws {
+        let base = FileManager.default.temporaryDirectory
+            .appendingPathComponent(
+                "panic-recovery-marker-\(UUID().uuidString)",
+                isDirectory: true
+            )
+        defer { try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: base) }
+        let store = BLEIncomingFileStore(baseDirectory: base)
+
+        try store.markPanicRecoveryPending()
+        #expect(try store.isPanicRecoveryPending())
+        try store.panicWipe(hasDurablePendingMarker: true)
+        #expect(try store.isPanicRecoveryPending())
+
+        try store.completePanicRecovery()
+
+        #expect(try !store.isPanicRecoveryPending())
+    }
+
     private func expectNoSideEffects(_ recorder: Recorder) {
         #expect(recorder.signedNameQueries.isEmpty)
         #expect(recorder.trackedPackets.isEmpty)

bitchatTests/Services/GeohashPresenceServiceTests.swift

@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ final class GeohashPresenceServiceTests: XCTestCase {
             burstMaxDelay: 0
         )
 
+        service.start()
         service.performHeartbeat()
 
         let sentAllAllowedChannels = await waitUntil { sentGeohashes.count == 3 }
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ final class GeohashPresenceServiceTests: XCTestCase {
         XCTAssertEqual(Set(sentGeohashes), Set(["9q", "9q8y", "9q8yy"]))
         XCTAssertEqual(Set(lookedUpGeohashes), Set(["9q", "9q8y", "9q8yy"]))
         XCTAssertEqual(sleptNanoseconds.count, 3)
-        XCTAssertEqual(scheduler.intervals, [17])
+        XCTAssertEqual(scheduler.intervals, [17, 17])
     }
 
     func test_performHeartbeat_skipsBroadcastWhenTorIsNotReady() async {
@@ -97,11 +98,12 @@ final class GeohashPresenceServiceTests: XCTestCase {
             loopMaxInterval: 21
         )
 
+        service.start()
         service.performHeartbeat()
         try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 20_000_000)
 
         XCTAssertEqual(sendCount, 0)
-        XCTAssertEqual(scheduler.intervals, [21])
+        XCTAssertEqual(scheduler.intervals, [21, 21])
     }
 
     func test_performHeartbeat_skipsBroadcastWhenAppIsBackgrounded() async {
@@ -115,11 +117,45 @@ final class GeohashPresenceServiceTests: XCTestCase {
             loopMaxInterval: 22
         )
 
+        service.start()
         service.performHeartbeat()
         try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 20_000_000)
 
         XCTAssertEqual(sendCount, 0)
-        XCTAssertEqual(scheduler.intervals, [22])
+        XCTAssertEqual(scheduler.intervals, [22, 22])
+    }
+
+    func test_stopForPanic_cancelsTimerAndSuppressesDelayedBroadcast() async throws {
+        let identity = try NostrIdentity.generate()
+        let scheduler = MockGeohashPresenceScheduler()
+        var sleeperContinuation: CheckedContinuation<Void, Never>?
+        var sendCount = 0
+        let service = makeService(
+            scheduler: scheduler,
+            deriveIdentity: { _ in identity },
+            relaySender: { _, _ in sendCount += 1 },
+            sleeper: { _ in
+                await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
+                    sleeperContinuation = continuation
+                }
+            },
+            burstMinDelay: 1,
+            burstMaxDelay: 1
+        )
+
+        service.start()
+        service.performHeartbeat()
+        let delayStarted = await waitUntil {
+            sleeperContinuation != nil
+        }
+        XCTAssertTrue(delayStarted)
+
+        service.stopForPanic()
+        sleeperContinuation?.resume()
+        try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 20_000_000)
+
+        XCTAssertEqual(sendCount, 0)
+        XCTAssertEqual(scheduler.timers.first?.invalidateCallCount, 1)
     }
 
     func test_broadcastPresence_skipsSendWhenNoRelaysAreAvailable() async throws {

bitchatTests/Services/NetworkActivationServiceTests.swift

@@ -91,6 +91,53 @@ final class NetworkActivationServiceTests: XCTestCase {
         XCTAssertGreaterThanOrEqual(context.relayController.connectCallCount, 1)
     }
 
+    func test_stopForPanic_synchronouslyStopsAndIgnoresPublisherUpdates() async {
+        let context = makeService(permission: .authorized, favorites: [])
+
+        context.service.start()
+        context.service.stopForPanic()
+        let connectCountAfterStop = context.relayController.connectCallCount
+        let startCountAfterStop = context.torController.startIfNeededCallCount
+
+        context.favoritesSubject.send([Data([0x01])])
+        context.reachability.set(false)
+        context.reachability.set(true)
+        try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 30_000_000)
+
+        XCTAssertFalse(context.service.activationAllowed)
+        XCTAssertEqual(context.reachability.stopCallCount, 1)
+        XCTAssertEqual(context.torController.autoStartAllowedValues.last, false)
+        XCTAssertEqual(context.proxyController.proxyModes.last, false)
+        XCTAssertGreaterThanOrEqual(
+            context.torController.shutdownCompletelyCallCount,
+            1
+        )
+        XCTAssertGreaterThanOrEqual(
+            context.relayController.disconnectCallCount,
+            1
+        )
+        XCTAssertEqual(
+            context.relayController.connectCallCount,
+            connectCountAfterStop
+        )
+        XCTAssertEqual(
+            context.torController.startIfNeededCallCount,
+            startCountAfterStop
+        )
+    }
+
+    func test_start_afterPanicStop_reestablishesSubscriptions() {
+        let context = makeService(permission: .authorized, favorites: [])
+
+        context.service.start()
+        context.service.stopForPanic()
+        context.service.start()
+
+        XCTAssertTrue(context.service.activationAllowed)
+        XCTAssertEqual(context.reachability.startCallCount, 2)
+        XCTAssertEqual(context.relayController.connectCallCount, 2)
+    }
+
     private func makeService(
         permission: LocationChannelManager.PermissionState,
         favorites: Set<Data>
@@ -104,6 +151,7 @@ final class NetworkActivationServiceTests: XCTestCase {
         let torController = MockNetworkActivationTorController()
         let relayController = MockNetworkActivationRelayController()
         let proxyController = MockNetworkActivationProxyController()
+        let reachability = MockNetworkActivationReachability()
         let notificationCenter = NotificationCenter()
         let service = NetworkActivationService(
             storage: storage,
@@ -111,7 +159,7 @@ final class NetworkActivationServiceTests: XCTestCase {
             mutualFavoritesPublisher: favoritesSubject.eraseToAnyPublisher(),
             permissionProvider: { permissionSubject.value },
             mutualFavoritesProvider: { favoritesSubject.value },
-            reachabilityMonitor: AlwaysReachableMonitor(),
+            reachabilityMonitor: reachability,
             torController: torController,
             relayController: relayController,
             proxyController: proxyController,
@@ -121,6 +169,7 @@ final class NetworkActivationServiceTests: XCTestCase {
             service: service,
             storage: storage,
             favoritesSubject: favoritesSubject,
+            reachability: reachability,
             torController: torController,
             relayController: relayController,
             proxyController: proxyController,
@@ -148,12 +197,38 @@ private struct NetworkActivationTestContext {
     let service: NetworkActivationService
     let storage: UserDefaults
     let favoritesSubject: CurrentValueSubject<Set<Data>, Never>
+    let reachability: MockNetworkActivationReachability
     let torController: MockNetworkActivationTorController
     let relayController: MockNetworkActivationRelayController
     let proxyController: MockNetworkActivationProxyController
     let notificationCenter: NotificationCenter
 }
 
+@MainActor
+private final class MockNetworkActivationReachability:
+    NetworkReachabilityMonitoring {
+    private let subject = CurrentValueSubject<Bool, Never>(true)
+    private(set) var startCallCount = 0
+    private(set) var stopCallCount = 0
+
+    var isReachable: Bool { subject.value }
+    var reachabilityPublisher: AnyPublisher<Bool, Never> {
+        subject.removeDuplicates().dropFirst().eraseToAnyPublisher()
+    }
+
+    func start() {
+        startCallCount += 1
+    }
+
+    func stop() {
+        stopCallCount += 1
+    }
+
+    func set(_ reachable: Bool) {
+        subject.send(reachable)
+    }
+}
+
 @MainActor
 private final class MockNetworkActivationTorController: NetworkActivationTorControlling {
     private(set) var autoStartAllowedValues: [Bool] = []

bitchatTests/Services/NetworkReachabilityGateTests.swift

@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ private final class ControllableReachabilityMonitor: NetworkReachabilityMonitori
         subject.removeDuplicates().dropFirst().eraseToAnyPublisher()
     }
     func start() { startCalled = true }
+    func stop() { startCalled = false }
     func set(_ reachable: Bool) { subject.send(reachable) }
 }
 

bitchatTests/VoiceCaptureSessionTests.swift

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ private final class GatedVoiceCaptureSession: VoiceCaptureSession {
     private let startError: Error?
     private(set) var finishStarted = false
     private(set) var cancelCount = 0
+    private(set) var panicCancelCount = 0
     private var finishContinuation: CheckedContinuation<URL?, Never>?
 
     init(startError: Error? = nil) {
@@ -83,6 +84,10 @@ private final class GatedVoiceCaptureSession: VoiceCaptureSession {
         cancelCount += 1
     }
 
+    func panicCancelSynchronously() {
+        panicCancelCount += 1
+    }
+
     func resolveFinish(with url: URL?) {
         let continuation = finishContinuation
         finishContinuation = nil
@@ -204,4 +209,57 @@ struct VoiceCaptureSessionTests {
         }
         #expect(viewModel.state == .idle)
     }
+
+    @Test func panicSynchronouslyCancelsActiveCaptureAndResetsUI() async {
+        let session = GatedVoiceCaptureSession()
+        let viewModel = VoiceRecordingViewModel()
+        viewModel.sessionProvider = { session }
+
+        viewModel.start(shouldShow: true)
+        await waitUntil { self.isRecording(viewModel.state) }
+
+        viewModel.panicWipe()
+
+        #expect(session.panicCancelCount == 1)
+        #expect(viewModel.state == .idle)
+        #expect(!viewModel.isLiveStreaming)
+    }
+
+    @Test func panicInvalidatesARecordingAlreadyFinalizing() async throws {
+        let session = GatedVoiceCaptureSession()
+        let viewModel = VoiceRecordingViewModel()
+        viewModel.sessionProvider = { session }
+        let url = FileManager.default.temporaryDirectory
+            .appendingPathComponent("voice-panic-\(UUID().uuidString).m4a")
+        try Data([0x01]).write(to: url)
+        var delivered = false
+
+        viewModel.start(shouldShow: true)
+        await waitUntil { self.isRecording(viewModel.state) }
+        viewModel.finish { _ in delivered = true }
+        await waitUntil { session.finishStarted }
+
+        viewModel.panicWipe()
+        session.resolveFinish(with: url)
+        await waitUntil {
+            !FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: url.path)
+        }
+
+        #expect(!delivered)
+        #expect(viewModel.state == .idle)
+    }
+
+    @Test func liveSessionPanicStopsCaptureWithoutSendingControl() {
+        let capture = StubPTTCapture(stopResult: (nil, 0))
+        var sentPackets: [Data] = []
+        let session = PTTLiveVoiceSession(
+            sendPacket: { sentPackets.append($0) },
+            capture: capture
+        )
+
+        session.panicCancelSynchronously()
+
+        #expect(capture.cancelCount == 1)
+        #expect(sentPackets.isEmpty)
+    }
 }

bitchatTests/VoiceRecorderTests.swift

@@ -360,6 +360,35 @@ struct VoiceRecorderTests {
         #expect(FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: secondURL.path))
     }
 
+    @Test func classicSessionPanicStopsRecorderAndDeletesFileBeforeReturning() async throws {
+        let directory = try makeTemporaryDirectory()
+        defer { try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: directory) }
+
+        let rawSession = VoiceRecorderTestSession()
+        let coordinator = AudioSessionCoordinator(session: rawSession)
+        let factory = TestVoiceAudioRecorderFactory(plans: [.success])
+        let voiceRecorder = VoiceRecorder(
+            sessionCoordinator: coordinator,
+            recorderFactory: factory,
+            permissionGranted: { true },
+            paddingInterval: 0,
+            outputDirectory: directory
+        )
+        let capture = VoiceNoteCaptureSession(recorder: voiceRecorder)
+
+        try await capture.start()
+        let url = try #require(factory.urls.first)
+        let recorder = try #require(factory.recorders.first)
+
+        capture.panicCancelSynchronously()
+
+        #expect(recorder.stopCallCount == 1)
+        #expect(!recorder.isRecording)
+        #expect(!FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: url.path))
+        await coordinator.drain()
+        #expect(rawSession.activationCalls == [true, false])
+    }
+
     private func verifyFailedStart(
         firstPlan: TestVoiceAudioRecorderFactory.Plan,
         expectedPrepareCalls: Int,