diff --git a/desktopApp/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopLocalCache.kt b/desktopApp/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopLocalCache.kt
index 28b711231..59d00a98e 100644
--- a/desktopApp/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopLocalCache.kt
+++ b/desktopApp/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopLocalCache.kt
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.commons.services.nwc.NwcPaymentTracker
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.core.Address
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.core.Event
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.core.HexKey
+import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.crypto.checkSignature
+import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.crypto.verify
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.metadata.MetadataEvent
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.relay.normalizer.NormalizedRelayUrl
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.tags.aTag.taggedAddresses
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip51Lists.bookmarkList.OldBookmarkListEvent
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip57Zaps.LnZapEvent
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip57Zaps.LnZapRequestEvent
 import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.utils.DualCase
+import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.utils.Log
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
 import kotlinx.coroutines.GlobalScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.BufferOverflow
@@ -162,15 +165,51 @@ class DesktopLocalCache : ICacheProvider {
         }
     }
 
+    // ----- Event verification -----
+
+    /**
+     * Verifies an event's id-hash and Schnorr signature. On failure, logs
+     * the offending kind/createdAt and returns false so callers can drop it.
+     * Mirrors Amethyst Android's [com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.model.LocalCache.justVerify]
+     * so unverified relay traffic never reaches the desktop cache.
+     */
+    fun justVerify(event: Event): Boolean =
+        if (!event.verify()) {
+            try {
+                event.checkSignature()
+            } catch (e: Exception) {
+                Log.w("Event Verification Failed") {
+                    "Kind: ${event.kind} createdAt=${event.createdAt} id=${event.id} pubkey=${event.pubKey} reason=${e.message}"
+                }
+            }
+            false
+        } else {
+            true
+        }
+
     // ----- Event consumption -----
 
     /**
      * Routes an event to the appropriate consume method.
-     * Returns true if the event was consumed (new), false if already seen.
+     * Returns true if the event was consumed (new), false if already seen
+     * or if signature verification failed.
      */
     fun consume(
         event: Event,
         relay: NormalizedRelayUrl?,
+    ): Boolean {
+        if (!justVerify(event)) return false
+        return consumeAssumingVerified(event, relay)
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Routes an already-verified event to its consume method. Internal seam
+     * exposed for tests that exercise routing/cache logic with synthetic
+     * events whose signatures are not real.
+     */
+    internal fun consumeAssumingVerified(
+        event: Event,
+        relay: NormalizedRelayUrl?,
     ): Boolean =
         when (event) {
             is MetadataEvent -> {
@@ -455,6 +494,7 @@ class DesktopLocalCache : ICacheProvider {
         relay: NormalizedRelayUrl?,
         onResponse: suspend (LnZapPaymentResponseEvent) -> Unit,
     ): Boolean {
+        if (!justVerify(event)) return false
         val note = getOrCreateNote(event.id)
         val author = getOrCreateUser(event.pubKey)
 
@@ -482,6 +522,7 @@ class DesktopLocalCache : ICacheProvider {
         event: LnZapPaymentResponseEvent,
         relay: NormalizedRelayUrl?,
     ): Boolean {
+        if (!justVerify(event)) return false
         val requestId = event.requestId()
         val pending = paymentTracker.onResponseReceived(requestId) ?: return false
 
@@ -545,6 +586,7 @@ class DesktopLocalCache : ICacheProvider {
     // ----- Own event consumption -----
 
     override fun justConsumeMyOwnEvent(event: Event): Boolean {
+        if (!justVerify(event)) return false
         // For addressable/replaceable events, store in the addressable note cache
         // so state holders (Nip65RelayListState, etc.) pick it up via their flows
         if (event is com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.core.AddressableEvent) {
diff --git a/desktopApp/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/subscriptions/DesktopRelaySubscriptionsCoordinator.kt b/desktopApp/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/subscriptions/DesktopRelaySubscriptionsCoordinator.kt
index b8fe4a15f..254acb19a 100644
--- a/desktopApp/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/subscriptions/DesktopRelaySubscriptionsCoordinator.kt
+++ b/desktopApp/src/jvmMain/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/subscriptions/DesktopRelaySubscriptionsCoordinator.kt
@@ -123,20 +123,43 @@ class DesktopRelaySubscriptionsCoordinator(
     ) {
         scope.launch(Dispatchers.IO) {
             try {
-                val consumed = localCache.consume(event, relay)
-                if (consumed) {
-                    _lastEventAt.value = System.currentTimeMillis()
-                    val note = localCache.getNoteIfExists(event.id) ?: return@launch
-                    eventBundler.invalidateList(note) { batch ->
-                        localCache.eventStream.emitNewNotes(batch)
-                    }
-                }
+                runConsume(localCache.consume(event, relay), event)
             } catch (e: Exception) {
                 println("Coordinator: failed to consume kind=${event.kind} id=${event.id} relay=$relay: ${e.message}")
             }
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Test-only seam — bypasses signature verification in the cache so unit
+     * tests can pump synthetic events through the full coordinator pipeline.
+     * Production code MUST use [consumeEvent].
+     */
+    internal fun consumeEventAssumingVerified(
+        event: Event,
+        relay: NormalizedRelayUrl?,
+    ) {
+        scope.launch(Dispatchers.IO) {
+            try {
+                runConsume(localCache.consumeAssumingVerified(event, relay), event)
+            } catch (e: Exception) {
+                println("Coordinator: failed to consume kind=${event.kind} id=${event.id} relay=$relay: ${e.message}")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun runConsume(
+        consumed: Boolean,
+        event: Event,
+    ) {
+        if (!consumed) return
+        _lastEventAt.value = System.currentTimeMillis()
+        val note = localCache.getNoteIfExists(event.id) ?: return
+        eventBundler.invalidateList(note) { batch ->
+            localCache.eventStream.emitNewNotes(batch)
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Request a consolidated interaction subscription for the given note IDs.
      * Subscribes to kinds 7 (reactions), 9735 (zaps), 6 (reposts), and 1 (replies)
diff --git a/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/CoordinatorPipelineTest.kt b/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/CoordinatorPipelineTest.kt
index 36dbc87f8..5f4efd162 100644
--- a/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/CoordinatorPipelineTest.kt
+++ b/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/CoordinatorPipelineTest.kt
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ import kotlin.test.assertTrue
  * These tests use a stub INostrClient (no real relay connections) and exercise
  * the full event consumption path through DesktopRelaySubscriptionsCoordinator.
  *
- * Key invariant being tested: when coordinator.consumeEvent() is called,
+ * Key invariant being tested: when coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified() is called,
  * the event should flow through cache → eventStream → ViewModel.feedState.
  */
 class CoordinatorPipelineTest {
@@ -167,14 +167,14 @@ class CoordinatorPipelineTest {
                     content = "Hello from relay",
                     sig = dummySig,
                 )
-            coordinator.consumeEvent(event, relayUrl)
+            coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
 
             waitForBundler()
 
             val state = vm.feedState.feedContent.value
             assertIs<FeedState.Loaded>(
                 state,
-                "ViewModel should be Loaded after coordinator.consumeEvent()",
+                "ViewModel should be Loaded after coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified()",
             )
             assertTrue(
                 vm.feedState.visibleNotes().any { it.idHex == event.id },
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ class CoordinatorPipelineTest {
                     content = "test",
                     sig = dummySig,
                 )
-            coordinator.consumeEvent(event, relayUrl)
+            coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
             waitForBundler()
 
             assertTrue(coordinator.lastEventAt.value != null, "lastEventAt should be set after consumeEvent")
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ class CoordinatorPipelineTest {
                     content = "",
                     sig = dummySig,
                 )
-            coordinator.consumeEvent(contactEvent, relayUrl)
+            coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified(contactEvent, relayUrl)
             waitForBundler()
 
             assertTrue(
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ class CoordinatorPipelineTest {
                     content = "",
                     sig = dummySig,
                 )
-            coordinator.consumeEvent(contactEvent, relayUrl)
+            coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified(contactEvent, relayUrl)
             waitForBundler()
 
             // Step 2: Create following feed ViewModel
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ class CoordinatorPipelineTest {
                     content = "Note from followed user",
                     sig = dummySig,
                 )
-            coordinator.consumeEvent(textEvent, relayUrl)
+            coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified(textEvent, relayUrl)
             waitForBundler()
 
             val state = vm.feedState.feedContent.value
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ class CoordinatorPipelineTest {
                     content = "Note that won't show",
                     sig = dummySig,
                 )
-            coordinator.consumeEvent(textEvent, relayUrl)
+            coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified(textEvent, relayUrl)
             waitForBundler()
 
             assertIs<FeedState.Empty>(
@@ -349,8 +349,8 @@ class CoordinatorPipelineTest {
                 )
 
             // Consume same event twice (can happen with multiple relays)
-            coordinator.consumeEvent(event, relayUrl)
-            coordinator.consumeEvent(event, NormalizedRelayUrl("wss://relay2.test/"))
+            coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
+            coordinator.consumeEventAssumingVerified(event, NormalizedRelayUrl("wss://relay2.test/"))
             waitForBundler()
 
             assertTrue(
diff --git a/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopCachePipelineTest.kt b/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopCachePipelineTest.kt
index 20c1b2bcd..1d7bc219f 100644
--- a/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopCachePipelineTest.kt
+++ b/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopCachePipelineTest.kt
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
         val event = textNote("note1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey)
 
-        val consumed = cache.consume(event, relayUrl)
+        val consumed = cache.consumeAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
 
         assertTrue(consumed, "First consume should return true")
         val note = cache.getNoteIfExists("note1".padEnd(64, '0'))
@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
         val event = textNote("note1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey)
 
-        cache.consume(event, relayUrl)
-        val secondConsume = cache.consume(event, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
+        val secondConsume = cache.consumeAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
 
         assertTrue(!secondConsume, "Second consume of same event should return false")
     }
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
         val event = contactList("cl1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey))
 
-        cache.consume(event, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
 
         assertEquals(setOf(followedPubKey), cache.followedUsers.value)
     }
@@ -168,8 +168,8 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
                 createdAt = 200,
             )
 
-        cache.consume(old, relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(newer, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(old, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(newer, relayUrl)
 
         assertEquals(setOf(followedPubKey, unfollowedPubKey), cache.followedUsers.value)
     }
@@ -180,8 +180,8 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
         val newer = contactList("cl2".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey, unfollowedPubKey), createdAt = 200)
         val old = contactList("cl1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey), createdAt = 100)
 
-        cache.consume(newer, relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(old, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(newer, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(old, relayUrl)
 
         assertEquals(
             setOf(followedPubKey, unfollowedPubKey),
@@ -197,8 +197,8 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
         val note = textNote(noteId, userPubKey)
         val react = reaction("react1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey, noteId)
 
-        cache.consume(note, relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(react, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(note, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(react, relayUrl)
 
         val cachedNote = cache.getNoteIfExists(noteId)!!
         assertTrue(cachedNote.countReactions() > 0, "Note should have reactions after consuming reaction event")
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
             delay(50)
 
             val event = textNote("note1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey)
-            cache.consume(event, relayUrl)
+            cache.consumeAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
             val note = cache.getNoteIfExists(event.id)!!
             cache.emitNewNotes(setOf(note))
 
@@ -244,9 +244,9 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
         val filter = DesktopGlobalFeedFilter(cache)
 
         // Add notes from different authors
-        cache.consume(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(textNote("n2".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey, createdAt = 200), relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(textNote("n3".padEnd(64, '0'), unfollowedPubKey, createdAt = 300), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n2".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey, createdAt = 200), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n3".padEnd(64, '0'), unfollowedPubKey, createdAt = 300), relayUrl)
 
         val feed = filter.feed()
         assertEquals(3, feed.size, "Global feed should contain all text notes")
@@ -255,10 +255,10 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
     @Test
     fun `FollowingFeedFilter only includes notes from followed users`() {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
-        cache.consume(contactList("cl".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey)), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(contactList("cl".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey)), relayUrl)
 
-        cache.consume(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(textNote("n2".padEnd(64, '0'), unfollowedPubKey, createdAt = 200), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n2".padEnd(64, '0'), unfollowedPubKey, createdAt = 200), relayUrl)
 
         val filter = DesktopFollowingFeedFilter(cache) { cache.followedUsers.value }
         val feed = filter.feed()
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
     @Test
     fun `FollowingFeedFilter returns empty when no follows`() {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
-        cache.consume(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey), relayUrl)
 
         val filter = DesktopFollowingFeedFilter(cache) { emptySet() }
         val feed = filter.feed()
@@ -281,8 +281,8 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
     @Test
     fun `ProfileFeedFilter only shows notes from target pubkey`() {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
-        cache.consume(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(textNote("n2".padEnd(64, '0'), unfollowedPubKey, createdAt = 200), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n2".padEnd(64, '0'), unfollowedPubKey, createdAt = 200), relayUrl)
 
         val filter = DesktopProfileFeedFilter(followedPubKey, cache)
         val feed = filter.feed()
@@ -297,8 +297,8 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
         val rootId = "root".padEnd(64, '0')
         val replyId = "reply".padEnd(64, '0')
 
-        cache.consume(textNote(rootId, userPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(textNote(replyId, followedPubKey, createdAt = 200, replyToId = rootId), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote(rootId, userPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote(replyId, followedPubKey, createdAt = 200, replyToId = rootId), relayUrl)
 
         val filter = DesktopThreadFilter(rootId, cache)
         val feed = filter.feed()
@@ -310,11 +310,11 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
     fun `NotificationFeedFilter shows events tagging user`() {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
         val noteId = "note1".padEnd(64, '0')
-        cache.consume(textNote(noteId, userPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote(noteId, userPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
 
         // Reaction from someone else targeting user's note
         val react = reaction("react1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey, noteId, createdAt = 200)
-        cache.consume(react, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(react, relayUrl)
 
         val filter = DesktopNotificationFeedFilter(userPubKey, cache)
         val feed = filter.feed()
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
     fun `ViewModel starts in Loading then transitions to Loaded after refresh`() =
         runBlocking {
             val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
-            cache.consume(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey), relayUrl)
+            cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey), relayUrl)
 
             val vm = DesktopFeedViewModel(DesktopGlobalFeedFilter(cache), cache)
 
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
 
             // Simulate relay event arriving
             val event = textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey)
-            cache.consume(event, relayUrl)
+            cache.consumeAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
             val note = cache.getNoteIfExists(event.id)!!
             cache.emitNewNotes(setOf(note))
 
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
     fun `Following ViewModel only shows followed users notes via eventStream`() =
         runBlocking {
             val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
-            cache.consume(contactList("cl".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey)), relayUrl)
+            cache.consumeAssumingVerified(contactList("cl".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey)), relayUrl)
 
             val filter = DesktopFollowingFeedFilter(cache) { cache.followedUsers.value }
             val vm = DesktopFeedViewModel(filter, cache)
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
 
             // Add followed user's note
             val e1 = textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey, createdAt = 100)
-            cache.consume(e1, relayUrl)
+            cache.consumeAssumingVerified(e1, relayUrl)
             val note1 = cache.getNoteIfExists(e1.id)!!
             cache.emitNewNotes(setOf(note1))
             waitForBundler()
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
 
             // Add unfollowed user's note
             val e2 = textNote("n2".padEnd(64, '0'), unfollowedPubKey, createdAt = 200)
-            cache.consume(e2, relayUrl)
+            cache.consumeAssumingVerified(e2, relayUrl)
             val note2 = cache.getNoteIfExists(e2.id)!!
             cache.emitNewNotes(setOf(note2))
             waitForBundler()
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
             // No contact list consumed — followedUsers remains empty
 
             val e1 = textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey)
-            cache.consume(e1, relayUrl)
+            cache.consumeAssumingVerified(e1, relayUrl)
 
             val filter = DesktopFollowingFeedFilter(cache) { cache.followedUsers.value }
             val vm = DesktopFeedViewModel(filter, cache)
@@ -442,8 +442,8 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
     @Test
     fun `clear resets all cache state`() {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
-        cache.consume(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey), relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(contactList("cl".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey)), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(contactList("cl".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey)), relayUrl)
 
         cache.clear()
 
@@ -459,9 +459,9 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
     @Test
     fun `global feed is sorted newest first`() {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
-        cache.consume(textNote("old".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(textNote("mid".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, createdAt = 200), relayUrl)
-        cache.consume(textNote("new".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, createdAt = 300), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("old".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, createdAt = 100), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("mid".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, createdAt = 200), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textNote("new".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, createdAt = 300), relayUrl)
 
         val filter = DesktopGlobalFeedFilter(cache)
         val feed = filter.feed()
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
                 sig = dummySig,
             )
 
-        cache.consume(metadata, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(metadata, relayUrl)
 
         val user = cache.getUserIfExists(userPubKey)
         assertTrue(user != null, "User should exist after metadata consumption")
@@ -506,12 +506,12 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
 
         // Create a text note
         val textEvent = textNote("t1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey)
-        cache.consume(textEvent, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(textEvent, relayUrl)
         val textNote = cache.getNoteIfExists(textEvent.id)!!
 
         // Create a reaction (not a text note)
         val reactEvent = reaction("r1".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, "t1".padEnd(64, '0'))
-        cache.consume(reactEvent, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(reactEvent, relayUrl)
         val reactNote = cache.getNoteIfExists(reactEvent.id)!!
 
         val filtered = filter.applyFilter(setOf(textNote, reactNote))
@@ -523,16 +523,16 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
     @Test
     fun `FollowingFeedFilter applyFilter respects follow set`() {
         val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
-        cache.consume(contactList("cl".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey)), relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(contactList("cl".padEnd(64, '0'), userPubKey, listOf(followedPubKey)), relayUrl)
 
         val filter = DesktopFollowingFeedFilter(cache) { cache.followedUsers.value }
 
         val e1 = textNote("n1".padEnd(64, '0'), followedPubKey)
-        cache.consume(e1, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(e1, relayUrl)
         val note1 = cache.getNoteIfExists(e1.id)!!
 
         val e2 = textNote("n2".padEnd(64, '0'), unfollowedPubKey)
-        cache.consume(e2, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(e2, relayUrl)
         val note2 = cache.getNoteIfExists(e2.id)!!
 
         val filtered = filter.applyFilter(setOf(note1, note2))
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ class DesktopCachePipelineTest {
                 sig = dummySig,
             )
 
-        cache.consume(metadata, relayUrl)
+        cache.consumeAssumingVerified(metadata, relayUrl)
 
         val user = cache.getUserIfExists(userPubKey)!!
         val cached = user.metadataOrNull()
diff --git a/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopLocalCacheVerifyTest.kt b/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopLocalCacheVerifyTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dc590a897
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktopApp/src/jvmTest/kotlin/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/desktop/cache/DesktopLocalCacheVerifyTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2025 Vitor Pamplona
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
+ * this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in
+ * the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+ * copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the
+ * Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
+ * subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+ * copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
+ * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR
+ * COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+ * AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
+ * WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+package com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.desktop.cache
+
+import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.crypto.KeyPair
+import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.relay.normalizer.NormalizedRelayUrl
+import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip01Core.signers.NostrSignerSync
+import com.vitorpamplona.quartz.nip10Notes.TextNoteEvent
+import kotlin.test.Test
+import kotlin.test.assertEquals
+import kotlin.test.assertFalse
+import kotlin.test.assertNotNull
+import kotlin.test.assertNull
+import kotlin.test.assertTrue
+
+/**
+ * Verifies that [DesktopLocalCache] rejects unverified events at its public
+ * ingress points (`consume` and `justConsumeMyOwnEvent`). This is the
+ * desktop equivalent of Amethyst Android's `LocalCache.justVerify` guard
+ * and closes the receive-time verification gap flagged in the Quartz
+ * security review (item 2.1, finding #1).
+ */
+class DesktopLocalCacheVerifyTest {
+    private val relayUrl = NormalizedRelayUrl("wss://relay.test/")
+
+    private fun signedTextNote(
+        content: String = "hello",
+        createdAt: Long = 1_700_000_000,
+    ): TextNoteEvent {
+        val signer = NostrSignerSync(KeyPair())
+        return signer.sign<TextNoteEvent>(
+            createdAt = createdAt,
+            kind = TextNoteEvent.KIND,
+            tags = emptyArray(),
+            content = content,
+        )
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `consume rejects an event with a forged signature`() {
+        val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
+        val authentic = signedTextNote()
+        val tampered =
+            TextNoteEvent(
+                id = authentic.id,
+                pubKey = authentic.pubKey,
+                createdAt = authentic.createdAt,
+                tags = authentic.tags,
+                content = "tampered content",
+                sig = authentic.sig,
+            )
+
+        val consumed = cache.consume(tampered, relayUrl)
+
+        assertFalse(consumed, "Tampered event should be rejected")
+        assertNull(
+            cache.getNoteIfExists(tampered.id),
+            "Tampered event must not enter the cache",
+        )
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `consume rejects an event with an all-zero signature`() {
+        val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
+        val event =
+            TextNoteEvent(
+                id = "a".repeat(64),
+                pubKey = "b".repeat(64),
+                createdAt = 1_700_000_000,
+                tags = emptyArray(),
+                content = "synthetic",
+                sig = "0".repeat(128),
+            )
+
+        val consumed = cache.consume(event, relayUrl)
+
+        assertFalse(consumed)
+        assertNull(cache.getNoteIfExists(event.id))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `consume accepts a properly signed event`() {
+        val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
+        val signed = signedTextNote(content = "authentic")
+
+        val consumed = cache.consume(signed, relayUrl)
+
+        assertTrue(consumed, "Signed event should be accepted")
+        val note = cache.getNoteIfExists(signed.id)
+        assertNotNull(note, "Signed event must reach the cache")
+        assertEquals(signed.id, note.event?.id)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `justConsumeMyOwnEvent rejects unverified events`() {
+        val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
+        val unsigned =
+            TextNoteEvent(
+                id = "a".repeat(64),
+                pubKey = "b".repeat(64),
+                createdAt = 1_700_000_000,
+                tags = emptyArray(),
+                content = "not signed",
+                sig = "0".repeat(128),
+            )
+
+        val accepted = cache.justConsumeMyOwnEvent(unsigned)
+
+        assertFalse(accepted)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `consumeAssumingVerified bypass still routes test events`() {
+        val cache = DesktopLocalCache()
+        val event =
+            TextNoteEvent(
+                id = "n1".padEnd(64, '0'),
+                pubKey = "a".repeat(64),
+                createdAt = 1_700_000_000,
+                tags = emptyArray(),
+                content = "synthetic",
+                sig = "0".repeat(128),
+            )
+
+        val consumed = cache.consumeAssumingVerified(event, relayUrl)
+
+        assertTrue(consumed, "consumeAssumingVerified must skip the signature check")
+        assertNotNull(cache.getNoteIfExists(event.id))
+    }
+}