diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c51fc7e..3953e33 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ venv/
 htmlcov/
 .coverage
 .coverage.*
+*.db
+*.sqlite
+*.sqlite3
 
 # Rust
 target/
diff --git a/auth.py b/auth.py
index cd6c268..fc86fff 100644
--- a/auth.py
+++ b/auth.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import hmac
 import os
 from fastapi import Security, HTTPException, status
 from fastapi.security.api_key import APIKeyHeader
@@ -15,8 +16,8 @@ def verify_api_key(
     cypher_token: str = Security(cypher_token_header)
 ) -> str:
     """
-    Verifies that the request provides a valid API Key or Cypher Token.
-    Keeps file sharing strictly authorized.
+    Verifies that the request provides a valid API Key or Cypher Token in constant time.
+    Keeps file sharing strictly authorized against side-channel timing attacks.
     """
     provided_key = api_key or cypher_token
     if not provided_key:
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ def verify_api_key(
             detail="Missing API Key or X-Cypher-Token header."
         )
 
-    if provided_key != CYPHER_API_KEY:
+    if not hmac.compare_digest(provided_key, CYPHER_API_KEY):
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
             detail="Invalid authorization token."
diff --git a/tests/test_share_system.py b/tests/test_share_system.py
index 6dd9a48..4e5fd83 100644
--- a/tests/test_share_system.py
+++ b/tests/test_share_system.py
@@ -158,6 +158,23 @@ def test_api_create_share_link_unauthenticated(self):
         response = self.client.post("/api/v1/share/create", json=payload, headers=headers)
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)  # Invalid key
 
+    def test_api_create_share_link_timing_safety(self):
+        payload = {
+            "video_id": "vid_api_timing",
+            "file_path": self.temp_file.name
+        }
+        # Verify rejection of keys with varying lengths and invalid characters
+        invalid_keys = [
+            "c",
+            "cypher_",
+            "cypher_secure_secret_token_2025",
+            CYPHER_API_KEY + "_extra",
+            "X" * len(CYPHER_API_KEY)
+        ]
+        for key in invalid_keys:
+            response = self.client.post("/api/v1/share/create", json=payload, headers={"X-API-Key": key})
+            self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)
+
     def test_api_create_share_link_authenticated(self):
         payload = {
             "video_id": "vid_api_2",