Panic Mode

The Panic Button allows administrators to instantly encrypt all sensitive data in an emergency. Once activated, all torrent files become unusable and user data is unreadable.

How It Works

┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                       NORMAL STATE                                │
│  • Torrents downloadable                                          │
│  • User data readable                                             │
│  • Posts & comments visible                                       │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                    PANIC ACTIVATED
                              │
                              ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      ENCRYPTED STATE                              │
│  • .torrent files → AES-256-GCM encrypted (unusable)              │
│  • Torrent names  → [ENCRYPTED]                                   │
│  • Torrent sizes  → 0                                             │
│  • User credentials → Encrypted                                   │
│  • Forum posts    → Encrypted                                     │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                    RESTORE (with password)
                              │
                              ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                       RESTORED STATE                              │
│  All data restored to original state                              │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Setup

Setting the Panic Password

The first administrator must set a Panic Password during initial setup.

Critical

Without the Panic Password, encrypted data is permanently lost. There is no recovery mechanism, backdoor, or master key.

Activation

To activate Panic Mode:

1. Go to Admin Settings → Panic Mode
2. Confirm with the Panic Password

Encryption begins immediately and cannot be interrupted.

What Gets Encrypted

Data Type	Encryption
.torrent files	AES-256-GCM (completely unusable)
Torrent metadata	Names replaced with [ENCRYPTED]
File sizes	Set to 0
User auth data	Encrypted
Forum posts	Content encrypted
Private messages	Encrypted

Restoration

To restore from Panic Mode:

1. Go to Admin Settings → Panic Mode
2. Enter the original Panic Password
3. Click Restore

The system will decrypt all data and return to normal operation.

Encryption Details

Component	Algorithm
Key Derivation	scrypt (32 bytes output)
Encryption	AES-256-GCM
IV	16 bytes random (per encryption session)
Authentication	GCM tag (prevents tampering)

Use Cases

Panic Mode is designed for scenarios where data protection is paramount:

• Server compromise — Render stolen data useless
• Shutdown — Secure cleanup when closing the tracker
• etc.

Best Practices

1. Test restoration — Practice the restore process BEFORE you need it
2. Multiple backups — Store the Panic Password in multiple secure locations
3. Password managers — Use a password manager for the Panic Password