diff --git a/docs/THREAT-MODEL.md b/docs/THREAT-MODEL.md
index bf9dc60..dc4ccef 100644
--- a/docs/THREAT-MODEL.md
+++ b/docs/THREAT-MODEL.md
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ Residuals (see `docs/FORWARD-SECRECY.md`): no Double Ratchet / post-compromise h
 
 ## Fixed
 
+- **Deep links could pre-arm the verify screen's confirmation button (found 21 Jul 2026, security audit).** `app.json` registers the `protestchat://` scheme, and expo-router auto-linking meant any website, QR code, or other app could push `protestchat://verify/<publicId>` straight onto the navigation stack with a live "They match, mark verified" button, no in-person comparison required. A link cannot forge a matching safety number, but it delivered a pre-armed verification UI outside the in-person ritual, a social-engineering assist against A5 aimed at exactly the stressed, non-expert users this app is for. Fixed: the confirm/deny buttons are now gated on an in-memory, single-use flag (`src/lib/verify-session.ts`) that only the in-app "Verify" press in chat can set. A screen reached any other way still shows the correct safety-number digits, since they are just as reachable from the peer's public id either way, but offers no confirmation action.
+
 - **Decrypted plaintext was never aged out (found 20 Jul 2026).** The 6-hour TTL was documented as the post-seizure mitigation (A6), but `sweepExpired()` only touched the envelope carry cache and the dedup ledger. The `messages` table — cleartext bodies, sender ids, conversation history — was retained indefinitely on disk until a panic wipe or leaving the channel/group. A seized unlocked phone therefore exposed the entire history the app had ever displayed, defeating the advertised retention window. Fixed: `messages` and their `message_recipients` ledger rows are now swept on the same timer and the same 6-hour clock, measured from `first_seen` (local insert time, not the sender's minute-rounded `sent_at`).
 
 - **Message replay (found 20 Jul 2026, security audit).** Dedup was only on the random outer envelope id, which a replay attacker simply regenerates — so a captured ciphertext, re-wrapped in a fresh envelope id, was re-decrypted and filed as a new message. A months-old "we move at nine" could be resurrected at will. Now each device also dedups on a hash of the *decrypted* body (`seen_messages` in `db.ts`), so an exact replay is dropped while genuine resends (fresh per-message id) are unaffected.
diff --git a/src/app/chat/[id].tsx b/src/app/chat/[id].tsx
index 0326e20..8381e66 100644
--- a/src/app/chat/[id].tsx
+++ b/src/app/chat/[id].tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import { useI18n } from '@/i18n/provider';
 import { useApp } from '@/lib/app-state';
 import { describeConversation, type ConversationInfo } from '@/lib/conversation';
 import * as db from '@/lib/db';
+import { armVerification } from '@/lib/verify-session';
 
 export default function ChatScreen() {
   const t = useTheme();
@@ -153,7 +154,10 @@ export default function ChatScreen() {
         // one warning a user can actually act on from here.
         onPress={
           info.mode === 'direct' && !contact?.verified
-            ? () => router.push(`/verify/${encodeURIComponent(conversationId)}`)
+            ? () => {
+                armVerification(conversationId);
+                router.push(`/verify/${encodeURIComponent(conversationId)}`);
+              }
             : undefined
         }
       />
diff --git a/src/app/verify/[id].tsx b/src/app/verify/[id].tsx
index 6ec9c74..191a41c 100644
--- a/src/app/verify/[id].tsx
+++ b/src/app/verify/[id].tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
  */
 
 import { Stack, useLocalSearchParams, useRouter } from 'expo-router';
+import { useState } from 'react';
 import { StyleSheet, Text, View } from 'react-native';
 
 import { Button, Notice, Screen, Tag } from '@/components/ui';
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ import { Fonts, Radius, Spacing, Type } from '@/constants/theme';
 import { useTheme } from '@/hooks/use-theme';
 import { useI18n } from '@/i18n/provider';
 import { useApp } from '@/lib/app-state';
+import { consumeVerificationArm } from '@/lib/verify-session';
 
 export default function VerifyScreen() {
   const t = useTheme();
@@ -35,6 +37,12 @@ export default function VerifyScreen() {
   const digits = safetyNumberFor(peerId);
   const rows = digits ? digits.split(' ') : [];
 
+  // Consumed once, on first mount of this exact screen instance, so it can
+  // only ever reflect the in-app "Verify" press that armed this id — never a
+  // deep link, which mounts the same screen with the same params but never
+  // calls armVerification first. See src/lib/verify-session.ts.
+  const [openedInApp] = useState(() => consumeVerificationArm(peerId));
+
   return (
     <Screen contentStyle={{ gap: Spacing.xl }}>
       <Stack.Screen options={{ title: contact?.name ?? copy('verify.title') }} />
@@ -83,7 +91,7 @@ export default function VerifyScreen() {
             onPress={() => void verifyContact(peerId, false)}
           />
         </View>
-      ) : (
+      ) : openedInApp ? (
         <View style={{ gap: Spacing.md }}>
           <Button
             title={copy('verify.match')}
@@ -97,6 +105,15 @@ export default function VerifyScreen() {
               calm-looking option is the dangerous one. */}
           <Button title={copy('verify.noMatch')} variant="danger" onPress={() => router.back()} />
         </View>
+      ) : (
+        // Reached by a deep link, QR code, or another app — not by the in-app
+        // "Verify" button in chat. A link can carry a real id and this screen
+        // will still show the correct digits for it, but it cannot carry the
+        // in-person comparison that verification exists to prove happened.
+        // No confirmation action is offered here on purpose (issue #34).
+        <Notice tone="caution">
+          <Text style={[Type.callout, { color: t.text }]}>{copy('verify.externalOrigin')}</Text>
+        </Notice>
       )}
     </Screen>
   );
diff --git a/src/i18n/bn.ts b/src/i18n/bn.ts
index f1911e1..44956bd 100644
--- a/src/i18n/bn.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/bn.ts
@@ -145,6 +145,8 @@ export const bn: Catalog = {
   'verify.inPerson': 'সামনাসামনি এটি করুন। ফোন কলে পড়া বা অন্য অ্যাপে পাঠানো নম্বর সেই কল বা অ্যাপ নিয়ন্ত্রণকারী ব্যক্তি নকল করতে পারে।',
   'verify.checked': 'আপনি এই ব্যক্তিকে যাচাই করা হিসেবে চিহ্নিত করেছেন।',
   'verify.match': 'নম্বর মেলে — যাচাই করুন', 'verify.noMatch': 'নম্বর মেলে না',
+  'verify.externalOrigin':
+    'এই স্ক্রিনটি অ্যাপের বাইরে থেকে খোলা হয়েছে, তাই এখানে যাচাই নিশ্চিত করা যাবে না। এই ব্যক্তির চ্যাট থেকে এটি খুলুন এবং সামনাসামনি নিরাপত্তা নম্বর যাচাই করতে যাচাই করুন-এ ট্যাপ করুন।',
   'radio.preparingTitle': 'নিরাপদভাবে প্রস্তুত হচ্ছে', 'radio.preparingDetail': 'আপনার পরিচয় ও স্থানীয় বার্তা লোড হচ্ছে।',
   'radio.permissionTitle': 'Bluetooth অনুমতি প্রয়োজন',
   'radio.permissionDetail': 'Bluetooth ছাড়া কাছাকাছি বার্তা আদানপ্রদান কাজ করবে না। সেটিংসে অনুমতি দিয়ে ফিরে আসুন।',
diff --git a/src/i18n/en.ts b/src/i18n/en.ts
index 11c9336..89e6f79 100644
--- a/src/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/en.ts
@@ -209,6 +209,8 @@ export const en = {
   'verify.checked': 'You marked this person as checked.',
   'verify.match': 'They match — mark verified',
   'verify.noMatch': 'They do not match',
+  'verify.externalOrigin':
+    "This screen was opened from outside the app, so it cannot confirm verification here. Open it from this person's chat and tap Verify to check safety numbers in person.",
 
   'radio.preparingTitle': 'Preparing securely',
   'radio.preparingDetail': 'Loading your identity and local messages.',
diff --git a/src/i18n/hi.ts b/src/i18n/hi.ts
index 24773b6..6f2e911 100644
--- a/src/i18n/hi.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/hi.ts
@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@ export const hi: Catalog = {
   'verify.checked': 'आपने इस व्यक्ति को जाँचा हुआ चिह्नित किया है।',
   'verify.match': 'नंबर मिलते हैं — सत्यापित करें',
   'verify.noMatch': 'नंबर नहीं मिलते',
+  'verify.externalOrigin':
+    'यह स्क्रीन ऐप के बाहर से खोली गई है, इसलिए यहाँ सत्यापन की पुष्टि नहीं हो सकती। इस व्यक्ति की चैट से इसे खोलें और आमने-सामने सुरक्षा नंबर जाँचने के लिए सत्यापित करें पर टैप करें।',
   'radio.preparingTitle': 'सुरक्षित रूप से तैयार हो रहा है',
   'radio.preparingDetail': 'आपकी पहचान और स्थानीय संदेश लोड हो रहे हैं।',
   'radio.permissionTitle': 'Bluetooth अनुमति आवश्यक है',
diff --git a/src/i18n/mr.ts b/src/i18n/mr.ts
index 715e79a..e885041 100644
--- a/src/i18n/mr.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/mr.ts
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ export const mr: Catalog = {
   'verify.inPerson': 'हे प्रत्यक्ष करा. फोन कॉलवर वाचलेले किंवा दुसऱ्या ॲपमध्ये पाठवलेले क्रमांक तो कॉल किंवा ॲप नियंत्रित करणारी व्यक्ती बनावट करू शकते.',
   'verify.checked': 'तुम्ही या व्यक्तीला तपासलेले म्हणून चिन्हांकित केले आहे.',
   'verify.match': 'क्रमांक जुळतात — पडताळा', 'verify.noMatch': 'क्रमांक जुळत नाहीत',
+  'verify.externalOrigin':
+    'ही स्क्रीन अॅपच्या बाहेरून उघडली गेली आहे, त्यामुळे येथे पडताळणी निश्चित करता येणार नाही. या व्यक्तीच्या चॅटमधून ती उघडा आणि समोरासमोर सुरक्षा क्रमांक तपासण्यासाठी पडताळा वर टॅप करा.',
   'radio.preparingTitle': 'सुरक्षितपणे तयार होत आहे', 'radio.preparingDetail': 'तुमची ओळख आणि स्थानिक संदेश लोड होत आहेत.',
   'radio.permissionTitle': 'Bluetooth परवानगी आवश्यक',
   'radio.permissionDetail': 'Bluetooth प्रवेशाशिवाय जवळचे संदेश चालणार नाहीत. सेटिंग्जमध्ये परवानगी द्या आणि परत या.',
diff --git a/src/i18n/ta.ts b/src/i18n/ta.ts
index 184685c..c8ea40f 100644
--- a/src/i18n/ta.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/ta.ts
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ export const ta: Catalog = {
   'verify.inPerson': 'இதை நேரில் செய்யுங்கள். தொலைபேசி அழைப்பில் வாசித்த அல்லது வேறு செயலியில் அனுப்பிய எண்களை அந்த அழைப்பு அல்லது செயலியைக் கட்டுப்படுத்துபவர் போலியாக்கலாம்.',
   'verify.checked': 'இந்த நபரைச் சரிபார்த்ததாகக் குறித்துள்ளீர்கள்.',
   'verify.match': 'எண்கள் பொருந்துகின்றன — சரிபார்', 'verify.noMatch': 'எண்கள் பொருந்தவில்லை',
+  'verify.externalOrigin':
+    'இந்த திரை பயன்பாட்டிற்கு வெளியே இருந்து திறக்கப்பட்டது, எனவே இங்கே சரிபார்ப்பை உறுதிப்படுத்த முடியாது. இந்த நபரின் அரட்டையிலிருந்து இதைத் திறந்து, நேருக்கு நேர் பாதுகாப்பு எண்களை சரிபார்க்க சரிபார் என்பதைத் தட்டவும்.',
   'radio.preparingTitle': 'பாதுகாப்பாகத் தயாராகிறது', 'radio.preparingDetail': 'உங்கள் அடையாளமும் உள்ளூர் செய்திகளும் ஏற்றப்படுகின்றன.',
   'radio.permissionTitle': 'Bluetooth அனுமதி தேவை',
   'radio.permissionDetail': 'Bluetooth அணுகல் இல்லாமல் அருகிலுள்ள செய்தி பரிமாற்றம் இயங்காது. அமைப்புகளில் அனுமதித்து திரும்பவும்.',
diff --git a/src/i18n/te.ts b/src/i18n/te.ts
index 25f75b5..8f29aae 100644
--- a/src/i18n/te.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/te.ts
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ export const te: Catalog = {
   'verify.inPerson': 'దీన్ని ఎదురెదురుగా చేయండి. ఫోన్ కాల్‌లో చదివిన లేదా మరో యాప్‌లో పంపిన నంబర్లను ఆ కాల్ లేదా యాప్‌ను నియంత్రించే వ్యక్తి నకిలీ చేయవచ్చు.',
   'verify.checked': 'మీరు ఈ వ్యక్తిని తనిఖీ చేసినట్లుగా గుర్తించారు.',
   'verify.match': 'నంబర్లు సరిపోలాయి — ధృవీకరించండి', 'verify.noMatch': 'నంబర్లు సరిపోలలేదు',
+  'verify.externalOrigin':
+    'ఈ స్క్రీన్ యాప్ వెలుపల నుండి తెరవబడింది, కాబట్టి ఇక్కడ ధృవీకరణను నిర్ధారించలేము. ఈ వ్యక్తి యొక్క చాట్ నుండి దీన్ని తెరిచి, ముఖాముఖిగా భద్రతా నంబర్లను తనిఖీ చేయడానికి ధృవీకరించండి పై నొక్కండి.',
   'radio.preparingTitle': 'సురక్షితంగా సిద్ధమవుతోంది', 'radio.preparingDetail': 'మీ గుర్తింపు, స్థానిక సందేశాలు లోడ్ అవుతున్నాయి.',
   'radio.permissionTitle': 'Bluetooth అనుమతి అవసరం',
   'radio.permissionDetail': 'Bluetooth యాక్సెస్ లేకుండా సమీప సందేశాలు పనిచేయవు. సెట్టింగ్‌లలో అనుమతించి తిరిగి రండి.',
diff --git a/src/lib/__tests__/verify-session.test.ts b/src/lib/__tests__/verify-session.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4d7307
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/__tests__/verify-session.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/**
+ * Deep links must never land directly on an armed verification confirmation
+ * (issue #34) — only a prior in-app arm for that exact id, within the
+ * window, consumes true.
+ */
+
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { describe, it } from 'node:test';
+
+import { armVerification, consumeVerificationArm } from '../verify-session';
+
+describe('verify session arming', () => {
+  it('is unarmed for an id that was never armed, as with a cold deep link', () => {
+    assert.equal(consumeVerificationArm('never-armed'), false);
+  });
+
+  it('arms only the exact id the in-app button pressed', () => {
+    armVerification('alice');
+    assert.equal(consumeVerificationArm('bob'), false);
+    assert.equal(consumeVerificationArm('alice'), true);
+  });
+
+  it('is single-use — a second mount for the same id is unarmed', () => {
+    armVerification('alice');
+    assert.equal(consumeVerificationArm('alice'), true);
+    assert.equal(consumeVerificationArm('alice'), false);
+  });
+
+  it('expires after the arm window', () => {
+    const armedAt = 1_000_000;
+    armVerification('alice', armedAt);
+    assert.equal(consumeVerificationArm('alice', armedAt + 10 * 60 * 1000), false);
+  });
+
+  it('is still armed just inside the window', () => {
+    const armedAt = 1_000_000;
+    armVerification('alice', armedAt);
+    assert.equal(consumeVerificationArm('alice', armedAt + 4 * 60 * 1000), true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/verify-session.ts b/src/lib/verify-session.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f3ed49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/verify-session.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Proof that the verify screen for a given contact was opened from the
+ * in-app "Verify" action in chat, not from an incoming deep link, QR-driven
+ * intent, or another app.
+ *
+ * A URL cannot carry this proof: whatever a link puts in `/verify/<id>` is
+ * exactly the same param the in-app button would have produced, so origin
+ * has to be something a link literally cannot set. This is an in-memory,
+ * single-use flag armed by the trusted button press and consumed the moment
+ * the screen mounts. It is never persisted and never derived from anything
+ * external, so a `protestchat://verify/<id>` link always arrives unarmed.
+ */
+
+const armed = new Map<string, number>();
+
+// Generous enough to survive the push/mount tick without ever making sense
+// as a window an attacker could race into from outside the app.
+const ARM_WINDOW_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000;
+
+export function armVerification(publicId: string, now = Date.now()): void {
+  armed.set(publicId, now);
+}
+
+export function consumeVerificationArm(publicId: string, now = Date.now()): boolean {
+  const at = armed.get(publicId);
+  armed.delete(publicId);
+  return at !== undefined && now - at <= ARM_WINDOW_MS;
+}