diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index b8b0f8c..3f9931e 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -252,6 +252,16 @@ group www-data and reaches the private mongod; `sudo -u www-data` works too.
 
 - **No root id in federation output, NodeInfo or logs, no IP next to an identity in logs, and no `ex.Message` to a
   client** ("Something went wrong." instead).
+- **Sign-in and recovery never tell which logins or addresses exist** (owner decision 2026-10-04): every failed sign-in
+  gets "That username and password do not match." after the same hashing (`RootUsersService.Decoy`, a constant-time
+  comparison), and only a correct password learns of a ban. Every recovery request answers the same sentence and
+  queues a `SendRecovery` job, found or not; `RecoveryJob` sends the email and keeps only a SHA-256 of the code, for an
+  hour. A recovered password ends every session of the root (`RootSessions`: `CredentialsChangedAt` for `/clientapi`
+  JWTs, OpenIddict revocation for each persona).
+- **Deleting a root deletes everything public it had** (`RootRemoval`, from the admin route or `/clientapi/user/delete`
+  with the password): its sessions end, each persona and each group it owns sends `Delete{Actor}` to followers, members
+  and the accounts it follows, the personas' posts are emptied, and `/peasants/{name}`, its inbox and WebFinger answer
+  410 (`LocalActorService.Gone`) while the names stay reserved. The root keeps only a `deleted-{id}` name.
 - **Never derive a public name from the root username.** Invitation sign-up takes `AvatarUserName` and refuses one
   equal to the login.
 - **One username space:** personas, groups and the instance reserve their name in `ReservedName` (unique index) before
diff --git a/PrivaPub.ClientModels/User/RemoveSelfForm.cs b/PrivaPub.ClientModels/User/RemoveSelfForm.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe7ebec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PrivaPub.ClientModels/User/RemoveSelfForm.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+using PrivaPub.ClientModels.Resources;
+
+using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.ClientModels.User
+{
+	// Deleting one's own login, and with it every persona and group it owns, asks for the password again.
+	public class RemoveSelfForm
+	{
+		[Required(ErrorMessageResourceName = "Required", ErrorMessageResourceType = typeof(ErrorsResource)),
+			Display(Name = "Password", ResourceType = typeof(FieldsNameResource))]
+		public string Password { get; set; }
+	}
+}
diff --git a/PrivaPub.Tests/Domain/ContentRendererTests.cs b/PrivaPub.Tests/Domain/ContentRendererTests.cs
index 2861f32..59846b0 100644
--- a/PrivaPub.Tests/Domain/ContentRendererTests.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub.Tests/Domain/ContentRendererTests.cs
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Domain
 		{
 			public string BaseAddress => Base;
 
+			public Task<GoneActor> Gone(string userName, CancellationToken token) => Task.FromResult<GoneActor>(default);
 			public Task<LocalActor> FindByUserName(string userName, CancellationToken token) =>
 				Task.FromResult(userName.Equals("alice", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
 					? new LocalActor { Id = "a1", UserName = "alice", BaseAddress = Base, Kind = LocalActorKind.Person }
diff --git a/PrivaPub.Tests/Federation/GroupTests.cs b/PrivaPub.Tests/Federation/GroupTests.cs
index 36592c8..5b1304f 100644
--- a/PrivaPub.Tests/Federation/GroupTests.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub.Tests/Federation/GroupTests.cs
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Federation
 			// the member's copy names the member, so Mastodon and GoToSocial keep it, and names nobody else
 			Assert.Equal(new[] { member.Id }, create["cc"]!.AsArray().Select(t => t!.GetValue<string>()));
 			Assert.Equal(new[] { member.Id }, create["object"]!["cc"]!.AsArray().Select(t => t!.GetValue<string>()));
+			Assert.Contains(create["object"]!["tag"]!.AsArray(), t => t!["type"]!.GetValue<string>() == "Mention" && t["href"]!.GetValue<string>() == member.Id);
 			Assert.DoesNotContain(Addressing.Public, create.ToJsonString());
 			Assert.Empty(await _harness.Outgoing(follower.SharedInbox));
 			Assert.Empty((await _harness.Outgoing(member.SharedInbox)).Where(a => a["type"]!.GetValue<string>() == "Announce"));
diff --git a/PrivaPub.Tests/Http/ClientApiAccountsTests.cs b/PrivaPub.Tests/Http/ClientApiAccountsTests.cs
index 794be5b..8b000e3 100644
--- a/PrivaPub.Tests/Http/ClientApiAccountsTests.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub.Tests/Http/ClientApiAccountsTests.cs
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ using MongoDB.Entities;
 using PrivaPub.ClientModels;
 using PrivaPub.Models.Group;
 using PrivaPub.Models.User;
+using PrivaPub.Services;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Jobs;
 using PrivaPub.Tests.Support;
 using PrivaPub.Tests.Support.Host;
 
@@ -136,9 +138,11 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
 
 			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, ok.StatusCode);
 			Assert.Equal(root.Id, (await ok.JsonBody())["userId"]!.GetValue<string>());
+			// a wrong password and an unknown login get the same answer, so sign-in tells nobody which logins exist
 			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, wrong.StatusCode);
-			Assert.Equal("Wrong password.", await Message(wrong));
+			Assert.Equal(RootUsersService.NoMatch, await Message(wrong));
 			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, unknown.StatusCode);
+			Assert.Equal(await Message(wrong), await Message(unknown));
 			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, logout.StatusCode);
 			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Unauthorized, anonymousLogout.StatusCode);
 		}
@@ -290,42 +294,59 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
 		}
 
 		[Fact]
-		public async Task Recovery_without_an_email_is_refused()
+		public async Task Recovery_answers_the_same_whoever_asks_and_queues_the_work()
 		{
-			var root = await _host.SignUp("noemail");
+			var token = TestContext.Current.CancellationToken;
+			var since = DateTime.UtcNow.AddSeconds(-1);
+			var withEmail = await _host.SignUp("withemail");
+			var withoutEmail = await _host.SignUp("noemail");
+			var email = $"{Guid.NewGuid():N}@example.test";
+			using (var signedIn = _host.As(withEmail.Jwt))
+				Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await signedIn.PostJson("/clientapi/user/update", new { email })).StatusCode);
 			using var client = _host.Client();
 
-			var response = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { userName = root.UserName });
-			var unknown = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { userName = Name("nobody") });
-			var neither = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { });
+			var answers = new[]
+			{
+				await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { userName = withEmail.UserName }),
+				await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { email }),
+				await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { userName = withoutEmail.UserName }),
+				await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { userName = Name("nobody") }),
+				await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { email = $"{Guid.NewGuid():N}@example.test" })
+			};
+			var bodies = new List<string>();
+			foreach (var answer in answers)
+			{
+				Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, answer.StatusCode);
+				bodies.Add(await answer.Content.ReadAsStringAsync(token));
+			}
 
-			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Locked, response.StatusCode);
-			Assert.Contains("doesn't have an email", await Message(response));
-			Assert.False(await DB.Default.Find<EmailRecovery>().Match(r => r.RootUserId == root.Id).ExecuteAnyAsync(TestContext.Current.CancellationToken));
-			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.NotFound, unknown.StatusCode);
-			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, neither.StatusCode);
+			Assert.Single(bodies.Distinct());
+			Assert.Contains("recovery link is on its way", bodies[0]);
+			var queued = await DB.Default.Find<Job>().Match(j => j.Kind == JobKind.SendRecovery && j.CreatedAt >= since).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			Assert.True(queued.Count >= answers.Length);
+			Assert.Contains(queued, j => j.Payload.Contains(withEmail.Id));
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, (await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { })).StatusCode);
 		}
 
 		[Fact]
-		public async Task Recovery_through_an_unreachable_mail_server_says_so_and_nothing_more()
+		public async Task The_recovery_job_keeps_only_a_hash_and_an_unreachable_mail_server_says_nothing_to_anyone()
 		{
+			var token = TestContext.Current.CancellationToken;
 			var root = await _host.SignUp("smtp");
 			var email = $"{Guid.NewGuid():N}@example.test";
 			using (var signedIn = _host.As(root.Jwt))
 				Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await signedIn.PostJson("/clientapi/user/update", new { email })).StatusCode);
 			using var client = _host.Client();
 
-			var byName = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { userName = root.UserName });
-			var byEmail = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { email });
+			var answer = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/password", new { userName = root.UserName });
+			await _host.Run(j => j.Kind == JobKind.SendRecovery && j.Payload.Contains(root.Id), token);
 
-			foreach (var response in new[] { byName, byEmail })
-			{
-				var body = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync(TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
-				Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.ServiceUnavailable, response.StatusCode);
-				Assert.Equal("Failed to send email.", JsonNode.Parse(body)!["errorMessage"]!.GetValue<string>());
-				foreach (var leak in new[] { "xception", "efused", "ocket", "127.0.0.1", "smtp", "SMTP", "  at " })
-					Assert.DoesNotContain(leak, body);
-			}
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, answer.StatusCode);
+			var recovery = await DB.Default.Find<EmailRecovery>().Match(r => r.RootUserId == root.Id).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+			Assert.NotNull(recovery);
+			Assert.Null(recovery.RecoveryCode);
+			Assert.Equal(64, recovery.CodeHash.Length);
+			Assert.InRange(recovery.ExpiresAt, DateTime.UtcNow.AddMinutes(50), DateTime.UtcNow.AddMinutes(61));
 		}
 
 		[Fact]
@@ -348,7 +369,10 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
 		{
 			var root = await _host.SignUp("recover");
 			var code = Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N") + Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N");
-			await DB.Default.SaveAsync(new EmailRecovery { RootUserId = root.Id, RecoveryCode = code }, TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
+			await DB.Default.SaveAsync(new EmailRecovery { RootUserId = root.Id, CodeHash = RecoveryJob.Hash(code), ExpiresAt = DateTime.UtcNow.AddHours(1) },
+				TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
+			var persona = await _host.Persona(root, "recovered");
+			var apiToken = await _host.MastodonToken(persona);
 			using var client = _host.Client();
 
 			var valid = await client.PostAsync("/clientapi/user/recover/valid", new StringContent($"\"{code}\"", Encoding.UTF8, "application/json"), TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
@@ -361,6 +385,29 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
 			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, (await LogIn(root.UserName, root.Password)).StatusCode);
 			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await LogIn(root.UserName, NewPassword)).StatusCode);
 			Assert.False(await DB.Default.Find<EmailRecovery>().Match(r => r.RootUserId == root.Id).ExecuteAnyAsync(TestContext.Current.CancellationToken));
+			// whoever held the old sessions may be why the password was recovered: they end
+			using (var oldSession = _host.As(root.Jwt))
+				Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Unauthorized, (await oldSession.GetAsync("/clientapi/user/sniff/again", TestContext.Current.CancellationToken)).StatusCode);
+			using (var oldApp = _host.Client())
+			{
+				oldApp.DefaultRequestHeaders.Authorization = new("Bearer", apiToken);
+				Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Unauthorized, (await oldApp.GetAsync("/api/v1/accounts/verify_credentials", TestContext.Current.CancellationToken)).StatusCode);
+			}
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task An_expired_recovery_code_changes_nothing()
+		{
+			var root = await _host.SignUp("expired");
+			var code = Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N") + Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N");
+			await DB.Default.SaveAsync(new EmailRecovery { RootUserId = root.Id, CodeHash = RecoveryJob.Hash(code), ExpiresAt = DateTime.UtcNow.AddMinutes(-1) },
+				TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
+			using var client = _host.Client();
+
+			var change = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/recover/update/password", new { newPassword = NewPassword, repeatedPassword = NewPassword, recoveryCode = code });
+
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.NotFound, change.StatusCode);
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await LogIn(root.UserName, root.Password)).StatusCode);
 		}
 
 		[Fact]
diff --git a/PrivaPub.Tests/Http/RootRemovalTests.cs b/PrivaPub.Tests/Http/RootRemovalTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59162e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PrivaPub.Tests/Http/RootRemovalTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+using MongoDB.Entities;
+
+using PrivaPub.Models.Federation;
+using PrivaPub.Models.User;
+using PrivaPub.Tests.Support;
+using PrivaPub.Tests.Support.Host;
+
+using System.Net;
+using System.Net.Http.Json;
+
+using GroupEntity = PrivaPub.Models.Group.Group;
+using PostEntity = PrivaPub.Models.Post.Post;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
+{
+	// Deleting a root deletes its personas and their groups everywhere (owner decision 2026-10-04).
+	[Trait("Category", "Integration")]
+	public sealed class RootRemovalTests : IAsyncLifetime
+	{
+		PrivaPubHost _host;
+		HttpClient _client;
+		Peer _peer;
+
+		public async ValueTask InitializeAsync()
+		{
+			Assert.SkipUnless(MongoFixture.Enabled, MongoFixture.Skip);
+			_host = await PrivaPubHost.Shared();
+			_client = _host.Client();
+			_peer = await Peer.Start();
+		}
+
+		public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+		{
+			_client?.Dispose();
+			if (_peer != default)
+				await _peer.DisposeAsync();
+		}
+
+		async Task<HttpResponseMessage> AdminRemoves(params string[] rootIds)
+		{
+			var admin = await _host.Admin();
+			using var client = _host.As(admin.Jwt);
+			using var request = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Delete, "/clientapi/admin/remove/users") { Content = JsonContent.Create(new { userIdList = rootIds }) };
+			return await client.SendAsync(request, TestContext.Current.CancellationToken);
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task A_removed_roots_personas_and_groups_are_deleted_everywhere_and_say_so()
+		{
+			var token = TestContext.Current.CancellationToken;
+			var root = await _host.SignUp("leaving");
+			var persona = await _host.Persona(root, "leaving");
+			var follower = new RemoteActor(_peer, "fan");
+			var member = new RemoteActor(_peer, "member");
+			await DB.Default.SaveAsync(new Follower { LocalActorId = persona.Id, LocalActorKind = LocalActorKind.Person, ActorURI = follower.Id, InboxURL = follower.Id + "/inbox" }, token);
+			var group = await _host.Group(persona, community: true);
+			var groupId = group["id"]!.GetValue<string>();
+			await DB.Default.SaveAsync(new Follower { LocalActorId = groupId, LocalActorKind = LocalActorKind.Group, ActorURI = member.Id, InboxURL = member.Id + "/inbox" }, token);
+			var post = await _host.Publish(persona, "goodbye soon");
+			var apiToken = await _host.MastodonToken(persona);
+			var since = DateTime.UtcNow.AddSeconds(-1);
+
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await AdminRemoves(root.Id)).StatusCode);
+
+			var toFollower = Assert.Single(await Jobs.Deliveries(follower.Id + "/inbox", since, token), d => d["type"]!.GetValue<string>() == "Delete");
+			Assert.Equal(persona.ActorUri(), toFollower["object"]!.GetValue<string>());
+			Assert.Equal(persona.ActorUri(), toFollower["actor"]!.GetValue<string>());
+			var groupName = group["userName"]!.GetValue<string>();
+			Assert.Contains(await Jobs.Deliveries(member.Id + "/inbox", since, token),
+				d => d["type"]!.GetValue<string>() == "Delete" && d["object"]!.GetValue<string>() == $"{PrivaPubHost.Base}/peasants/{groupName}");
+			var gone = await _client.Fetch($"/peasants/{persona.UserName}");
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Gone, gone.Status);
+			Assert.Equal("Person", gone.Json["formerType"]!.GetValue<string>());
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Gone, (await _client.Fetch($"/peasants/{groupName}")).Status);
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Gone, (await _client.GetAsync($"/.well-known/webfinger?resource=acct:{persona.UserName}@{PrivaPubHost.Host}", token)).StatusCode);
+			var stored = await DB.Default.Find<PostEntity>().MatchID(post.ID).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+			Assert.NotNull(stored.DeletedAt);
+			Assert.Null(stored.ContentHtml);
+			Assert.NotNull((await DB.Default.Find<GroupEntity>().MatchID(groupId).ExecuteFirstAsync(token)).DeletionAt);
+			var removed = await DB.Default.Find<RootUser>().MatchID(root.Id).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+			Assert.Equal($"deleted-{root.Id}", removed.UserName);
+			Assert.Null(removed.HashedPassword);
+			using var app = _host.Client();
+			app.DefaultRequestHeaders.Authorization = new("Bearer", apiToken);
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Unauthorized, (await app.GetAsync("/api/v1/accounts/verify_credentials", token)).StatusCode);
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task A_second_removal_does_not_collide_with_the_first()
+		{
+			var first = await _host.SignUp("first");
+			var second = await _host.SignUp("second");
+
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await AdminRemoves(first.Id)).StatusCode);
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await AdminRemoves(second.Id)).StatusCode);
+
+			Assert.NotNull((await DB.Default.Find<RootUser>().MatchID(second.Id).ExecuteFirstAsync(TestContext.Current.CancellationToken)).DeletedAt);
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task A_root_deletes_itself_only_with_its_password()
+		{
+			var token = TestContext.Current.CancellationToken;
+			var root = await _host.SignUp("self");
+			var persona = await _host.Persona(root, "self");
+			using var client = _host.As(root.Jwt);
+
+			var refused = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/delete", new { password = "Not-The-Password-1" });
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Forbidden, refused.StatusCode);
+			Assert.Null((await DB.Default.Find<Avatar>().MatchID(persona.Id).ExecuteFirstAsync(token)).DeletionAt);
+
+			var accepted = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/user/delete", new { password = root.Password });
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, accepted.StatusCode);
+			Assert.NotNull((await DB.Default.Find<Avatar>().MatchID(persona.Id).ExecuteFirstAsync(token)).DeletionAt);
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Unauthorized, (await client.GetAsync("/clientapi/user/sniff/again", token)).StatusCode);
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Controllers/ClientToServer/RootUserController.cs b/PrivaPub/Controllers/ClientToServer/RootUserController.cs
index c7a466a..40bc99a 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Controllers/ClientToServer/RootUserController.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Controllers/ClientToServer/RootUserController.cs
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Controllers.ClientToServer
 				if (!result.IsValid)
 					return StatusCode(result.StatusCode, result);
 
-				return Ok(result);
+				return Ok(result.Data);//the same sentence for everyone
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex)
 			{
@@ -414,26 +414,23 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Controllers.ClientToServer
 			}
 		}
 
-		//[HttpDelete, Route("delete"), Authorize(Policy = Policies.IsUser)]
-		//public async Task<IActionResult> RemoveSelf()
-		//{
-		//	var result = new WebResult();
-		//	try
-		//	{
-		//		//result = await UsersService.RemoveUserAsync(User.GetUserId());
-		//		if (!result.IsValid)
-		//			return StatusCode(result.StatusCode, result);
-
-		//		await HttpContext.SignOutAsync();
-
-		//		return Ok();
-		//	}
-		//	catch (Exception ex)
-		//	{
-		//		Logger.LogError(ex, $"{nameof(User)}.{nameof(RemoveSelf)}()");
-		//		return BadRequest(result.Invalidate(Localizer["Something went wrong."]));
-		//	}
-		//}
+		[HttpPost, Route("/clientapi/user/delete"), EnableRateLimiting(RateLimiting.Accounts), Authorize(Policy = Policies.IsUser)]
+		public async Task<IActionResult> RemoveSelf(RemoveSelfForm form)
+		{
+			var result = new WebResult();
+			if (!ModelState.IsValid)
+				return BadRequest(result.Invalidate(Localizer["Invalid model."]));
+			try
+			{
+				result = await UsersService.RemoveSelfAsync(User.GetUserId(), form.Password);
+				return result.IsValid ? Ok() : StatusCode(result.StatusCode, result);
+			}
+			catch (Exception ex)
+			{
+				Logger.LogError(ex, $"{nameof(User)}.{nameof(RemoveSelf)}()");
+				return BadRequest(result.Invalidate(Localizer["Something went wrong."]));
+			}
+		}
 
 		#endregion User endpoints
 
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Federation/Actors/LocalActorService.cs b/PrivaPub/Federation/Actors/LocalActorService.cs
index 457baaf..5c03541 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Federation/Actors/LocalActorService.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Federation/Actors/LocalActorService.cs
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Actors
 	{
 		string BaseAddress { get; }
 		Task<LocalActor> FindByUserName(string userName, CancellationToken token);
+		Task<GoneActor> Gone(string userName, CancellationToken token);
 		Task<LocalActor> FindById(LocalActorKind kind, string id, CancellationToken token);
 		Task<LocalActor> FindByUri(string actorUri, CancellationToken token);
 		Task<LocalActor> GetInstanceActor(CancellationToken token);
@@ -71,6 +72,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Actors
 		LocalActor FromGroup(GroupEntity group);
 	}
 
+	// a persona or group that was deleted: its name stays reserved, and its documents answer 410 with this
+	public sealed record GoneActor(string Uri, string FormerType, DateTime DeletedAt);
+
 	public class LocalActorService : ILocalActorService
 	{
 		public const string InstanceUserName = "privapub";
@@ -113,6 +117,18 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Actors
 			return group == default ? default : FromGroup(group);
 		}
 
+		public async Task<GoneActor> Gone(string userName, CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(userName))
+				return default;
+			userName = userName.ToLowerInvariant();
+			var avatar = await _dbEntities.Avatars.Match(a => a.UserName == userName && a.DeletionAt.HasValue).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+			if (avatar != default)
+				return new GoneActor($"{BaseAddress}/peasants/{avatar.UserName}", "Person", avatar.DeletionAt.Value);
+			var group = await _dbEntities.Groups.Match(g => g.UserName == userName && g.DeletionAt.HasValue).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+			return group == default ? default : new GoneActor($"{BaseAddress}/peasants/{group.UserName}", "Group", group.DeletionAt.Value);
+		}
+
 		public async Task<LocalActor> FindById(LocalActorKind kind, string id, CancellationToken token)
 		{
 			switch (kind)
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/PeasantsController.cs b/PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/PeasantsController.cs
index 972d447..b224781 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/PeasantsController.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/PeasantsController.cs
@@ -53,6 +53,20 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Controllers
 		public async Task<IActionResult> GetActor(string actor, CancellationToken token)
 		{
 			var local = await _localActors.FindByUserName(actor, token);
+			if (local == default && await _localActors.Gone(actor, token) is { } gone)
+				return new ContentResult
+				{
+					Content = new JsonObject
+					{
+						["@context"] = ActivityPubRenderer.ActivityStreams,
+						["id"] = gone.Uri,
+						["type"] = "Tombstone",
+						["formerType"] = gone.FormerType,
+						["deleted"] = ActivityPubRenderer.Timestamp(gone.DeletedAt)
+					}.ToJsonString(),
+					ContentType = ActivityContentType,
+					StatusCode = StatusCodes.Status410Gone
+				};
 			if (local is not { IsFederated: true })
 				return NotFound();
 			if (WantsHtml() && local.Kind != LocalActorKind.Application)
@@ -282,6 +296,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Controllers
 		public async Task<IActionResult> Inbox(string actor, CancellationToken token)
 		{
 			var local = await _localActors.FindByUserName(actor, token);
+			if (local == default && await _localActors.Gone(actor, token) != default)
+				return StatusCode(StatusCodes.Status410Gone);
 			if (local is not { IsFederated: true })
 				return Answer(_inbox.NoSuchRecipient(Request));
 			return Answer(await _inbox.Receive(Request, local, token));
@@ -328,7 +344,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Controllers
 			{
 				var circle = await _dbEntities.Groups.MatchID(post.GroupId).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
 				var note = ActivityPubRenderer.Note(post, local, _localActors.FromGroup(circle), post.InReplyToURI);
-				return (local, post, OutboxPublisher.Naming(note, SignedFetchAuthorizer.CircleReaders(circle, requester)));
+				var readers = SignedFetchAuthorizer.CircleReaders(circle, requester);
+				var named = readers.Count == 0 ? new List<Models.User.ForeignAvatar>() : await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(a => readers.Contains(a.ActorURI)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+				return (local, post, OutboxPublisher.Naming(note, named));
 			}
 			var rendered = post.Visibility == PostVisibility.Direct
 				? ActivityPubRenderer.DirectNote(post, local, Array.Empty<(string, string)>(), post.ContextURI)
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/WellKnownController.cs b/PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/WellKnownController.cs
index 991e8b0..0a8c452 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/WellKnownController.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/WellKnownController.cs
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Controllers
 				if (parts.Length != 2 || !parts[1].Equals(domain, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
 					return NotFound();
 				actor = await _localActors.FindByUserName(parts[0], token);
+				if (actor == default && await _localActors.Gone(parts[0], token) != default)
+					return StatusCode(StatusCodes.Status410Gone);
 			}
 			else
 				actor = await _localActors.FindByUri(resource, token);
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Federation/Outbox/OutboxPublisher.cs b/PrivaPub/Federation/Outbox/OutboxPublisher.cs
index dfbaa44..e0fba61 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Federation/Outbox/OutboxPublisher.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Federation/Outbox/OutboxPublisher.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ using PrivaPub.Federation.Actors;
 using PrivaPub.Federation.Rendering;
 using PrivaPub.Models.Federation;
 using PrivaPub.Models.Post;
+using PrivaPub.Models.User;
 using PrivaPub.StaticServices;
 
 using System.Text.Json.Nodes;
@@ -75,19 +76,18 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Outbox
 		}
 
 		async Task<IReadOnlyList<string>> CircleMembers(string groupId, CancellationToken token) =>
-			(await CircleRecipients(groupId, token)).Select(r => r.Inbox).Distinct(StringComparer.Ordinal).ToList();
+			(await CircleRecipients(groupId, token)).Select(r => r.InboxURL).Distinct(StringComparer.Ordinal).ToList();
 
-		async Task<IReadOnlyList<(string Member, string Inbox)>> CircleRecipients(string groupId, CancellationToken token)
+		async Task<IReadOnlyList<ForeignAvatar>> CircleRecipients(string groupId, CancellationToken token)
 		{
 			var circle = string.IsNullOrEmpty(groupId) ? default : await _dbEntities.Groups.MatchID(groupId).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
 			if (circle == default)
-				return Array.Empty<(string, string)>();
+				return Array.Empty<ForeignAvatar>();
 			var remote = circle.Members.Where(m => m.IsForeign).Select(m => m.AvatarId).ToList();
 			if (remote.Count == 0)
-				return Array.Empty<(string, string)>();
+				return Array.Empty<ForeignAvatar>();
 			return (await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(a => remote.Contains(a.ActorURI)).ExecuteAsync(token))
 				.Where(a => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(a.InboxURL))
-				.Select(a => (a.ActorURI, a.InboxURL))
 				.ToList();
 		}
 
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Outbox
 		{
 			if (post.Visibility == PostVisibility.Circle)
 			{
-				foreach (var (member, inbox) in await CircleRecipients(post.GroupId, token))
-					await _delivery.Enqueue(author, new[] { inbox }, Naming(activity, new[] { member }), token);
+				foreach (var member in await CircleRecipients(post.GroupId, token))
+					await _delivery.Enqueue(author, new[] { member.InboxURL }, Naming(activity, new[] { member }), token);
 				return;
 			}
 			var inboxes = await Audience(author, post, token);
@@ -110,27 +110,44 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Outbox
 			await Publish(author, post, ActivityPubRenderer.UpdateOf(post, author, group, reason), token);
 		}
 
-		// Mastodon and GoToSocial keep a post only when it names one of their own accounts, and a circle post names only the
-		// circle. So each member's copy, or a member's refetch, also names that member in cc (owner decision 2026-10-04):
-		// it tells each member nothing but that they are in the circle.
-		public static JsonObject Naming(JsonObject activityOrObject, IEnumerable<string> members)
+		// Mastodon keeps a post only when it names one of its own accounts, and GoToSocial shows a post that is neither
+		// public nor for followers only to the accounts it mentions; a circle post names only the circle. So each member's
+		// copy, or a member's refetch, also names that member in cc and mentions them, silently, in its tags (owner decision
+		// 2026-10-04): it tells each member nothing but that they are in the circle.
+		public static JsonObject Naming(JsonObject activityOrObject, IEnumerable<ForeignAvatar> members)
 		{
+			var named = members.ToList();
 			var copy = (JsonObject)activityOrObject.DeepClone();
-			Name(copy, members);
-			if (copy["object"] is JsonObject inner && inner.ContainsKey("to"))
-				Name(inner, members);
+			if (copy["object"] is JsonObject inner)
+			{
+				Name(copy, named, mention: false);
+				if (inner.ContainsKey("to"))
+					Name(inner, named, mention: true);
+			}
+			else
+				Name(copy, named, mention: copy.ContainsKey("attributedTo"));
 			return copy;
 		}
 
-		static void Name(JsonObject node, IEnumerable<string> members)
+		static void Name(JsonObject node, IReadOnlyList<ForeignAvatar> members, bool mention)
 		{
 			var cc = node["cc"] as JsonArray ?? new JsonArray();
+			var tags = node["tag"] as JsonArray ?? new JsonArray();
 			foreach (var member in members)
-				if (!cc.Any(c => c?.GetValue<string>() == member))
-					cc.Add(member);
+			{
+				if (!cc.Any(c => c?.GetValue<string>() == member.ActorURI))
+					cc.Add(member.ActorURI);
+				if (mention && !tags.Any(t => t?["href"]?.GetValue<string>() == member.ActorURI))
+					tags.Add(new JsonObject { ["type"] = "Mention", ["href"] = member.ActorURI, ["name"] = Handle(member) });
+			}
 			node["cc"] = cc;
+			if (mention)
+				node["tag"] = tags;
 		}
 
+		static string Handle(ForeignAvatar member) =>
+			string.IsNullOrEmpty(member.UserName) ? member.ActorURI : $"@{member.UserName}@{new Uri(member.ActorURI).Authority}";
+
 		public async Task PublishProfile(LocalActor actor, CancellationToken token)
 		{
 			var document = ActivityPubRenderer.Actor(actor);
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Infrastructure/Data/Migrations/_011_recovery_codes_are_hashed.cs b/PrivaPub/Infrastructure/Data/Migrations/_011_recovery_codes_are_hashed.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d43e87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PrivaPub/Infrastructure/Data/Migrations/_011_recovery_codes_are_hashed.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+using MongoDB.Entities;
+
+using PrivaPub.Models.User;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.Infrastructure.Data.Migrations
+{
+	// Recovery codes were stored in plain text and never expired; from now on only a hash with a one-hour expiry is kept.
+	// The old codes are dropped: anyone mid-recovery asks again.
+	public class _011_recovery_codes_are_hashed : IMigration
+	{
+		public async Task UpgradeAsync() =>
+			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<EmailRecovery>(r => r.CodeHash == null);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Middleware/SocialPubConfigurations.cs b/PrivaPub/Middleware/SocialPubConfigurations.cs
index ed328a3..e5442b1 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Middleware/SocialPubConfigurations.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Middleware/SocialPubConfigurations.cs
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Middleware
 				.AddSingleton<IPollService, PollService>()
 				.AddSingleton<IQuoteService, QuoteService>()
 				.AddSingleton<IJobHandler, PollRefreshJob>()
+				.AddSingleton<IJobHandler, RecoveryJob>()
 				.AddSingleton<IJobHandler, PollCloseJob>()
 				.AddSingleton<InstanceDescriber>()
 				.AddSingleton<IJobHandler>(services => services.GetRequiredService<InstanceDescriber>())
@@ -182,6 +183,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Middleware
 			return service
 				.AddTransient<IDataService, DataService>()
 				.AddTransient<IRootUsersService, RootUsersService>()
+				.AddScoped<IRootSessions, RootSessions>()
+				.AddScoped<IRootRemoval, RootRemoval>()
 				.AddTransient<IPublicAvatarUsersService, PublicAvatarUsersService>()
 				.AddTransient<IPrivateAvatarUsersService, PrivateAvatarUsersService>()
 				.AddTransient<IGroupUsersService, GroupUsersService>()
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Models/Jobs/Job.cs b/PrivaPub/Models/Jobs/Job.cs
index 936166b..1b1ff26 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Models/Jobs/Job.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Models/Jobs/Job.cs
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Models.Jobs
 		FetchPreview,
 		RollupDay,
 		CrawlPlan,
-		CrawlInstance
+		CrawlInstance,
+		SendRecovery
 	}
 
 	public enum JobState
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Models/User/EmailRecovery.cs b/PrivaPub/Models/User/EmailRecovery.cs
index 8c85076..7b1cd2e 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Models/User/EmailRecovery.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Models/User/EmailRecovery.cs
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Models.User
 	public class EmailRecovery : Entity
 	{
 		public string RootUserId { get; set; }
-		public string RecoveryCode { get; set; }
+		public string RecoveryCode { get; set; }//plaintext codes before 2026-10-04; migration _011 removed them, never written now
+		public string CodeHash { get; set; }//sha-256 of the code, hex; the code itself exists only in the email
+		public DateTime ExpiresAt { get; set; }
 		public string RequestIP { get; set; }
 		public DateTime CreationDate { get; set; } = DateTime.UtcNow;
 	}
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Models/User/RootUser.cs b/PrivaPub/Models/User/RootUser.cs
index e9b3059..19ebd2e 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Models/User/RootUser.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Models/User/RootUser.cs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Models.User
 		public DateTime CreatedAt { get; set; } = DateTime.UtcNow;
 		public DateTime UpdatedAt { get; set; } = DateTime.UtcNow;
 		public DateTime? DeletedAt { get; set; }
+		public DateTime? CredentialsChangedAt { get; set; }//a /clientapi token issued before this is refused (JwtEvents)
 	}
 
 	public class ContactItem
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Services/IRootUsersService.cs b/PrivaPub/Services/IRootUsersService.cs
index 47c1cd0..6fd9b5a 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Services/IRootUsersService.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Services/IRootUsersService.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 		Task<WebResult> UnbanUserAsync(UsersIds usersIds);
 
 		Task<WebResult> RemoveUserAsync(UsersIds usersIds);
+		Task<WebResult> RemoveSelfAsync(string rootId, string password);
 
 		Task<WebResult> UpdateUserAsync(UserForm userEmailForm, string userId);
 
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Services/JwtEvents.cs b/PrivaPub/Services/JwtEvents.cs
index 2a2fe72..ee7c1c6 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Services/JwtEvents.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Services/JwtEvents.cs
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 				context.Fail("The account can no longer be used.");
 				return;
 			}
+			// a password recovery ends every session made before it (RootSessions)
+			if (root.CredentialsChangedAt is { } changed && context.SecurityToken.ValidFrom < changed.AddSeconds(-1))
+			{
+				context.Fail("The account's password was changed.");
+				return;
+			}
 			if (context.Principal.Identity is not ClaimsIdentity identity)
 				return;
 			foreach (var policy in PolicyClaims)
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Services/RecoveryJob.cs b/PrivaPub/Services/RecoveryJob.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c876cc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PrivaPub/Services/RecoveryJob.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+using MailKit.Net.Smtp;
+
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Localization;
+
+using MimeKit;
+
+using MongoDB.Entities;
+
+using PrivaPub.Infrastructure.Jobs;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Jobs;
+using PrivaPub.Models.User;
+using PrivaPub.Resources;
+
+using System.Security.Cryptography;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.Services
+{
+	public sealed record RecoveryPayload(string RootUserId, string Host);
+
+	// Sends a password recovery link. Every request queues one of these, for an account that exists or not, so the answer
+	// to the request and its timing say nothing; SMTP's slowness and failures happen here, where nobody waits on them.
+	// The code exists only in the email: the database keeps its hash, for an hour.
+	public class RecoveryJob : IJobHandler
+	{
+		public const string Host = "recovery";
+		public static readonly TimeSpan CodeLifetime = TimeSpan.FromHours(1);
+
+		readonly AppConfigurationService _app;
+		readonly IStringLocalizer<GenericRes> _localizer;
+		readonly ILogger<RecoveryJob> _logger;
+
+		public RecoveryJob(AppConfigurationService app, IStringLocalizer<GenericRes> localizer, ILogger<RecoveryJob> logger)
+		{
+			_app = app;
+			_localizer = localizer;
+			_logger = logger;
+		}
+
+		public JobKind Kind => JobKind.SendRecovery;
+		public int Concurrency => 1;
+		public int MaxAttempts => 3;
+		public int PerHostLimit => 1;
+
+		public static string Hash(string code) => Convert.ToHexStringLower(SHA256.HashData(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(code ?? string.Empty)));
+
+		public async Task<JobOutcome> Handle(Job job, CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var payload = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<RecoveryPayload>(job.Payload);
+			if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(payload?.RootUserId))
+				return JobOutcome.Done;//asked for an account that does not exist: there is nobody to write to
+			var user = await DB.Default.Find<RootUser>().MatchID(payload.RootUserId).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+			if (user is not { DeletedAt: null, IsBanned: false } || string.IsNullOrEmpty(user.Email))
+				return JobOutcome.Done;
+
+			var code = Convert.ToHexStringLower(RandomNumberGenerator.GetBytes(32));
+			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<EmailRecovery>(r => r.RootUserId == user.ID);
+			await DB.Default.SaveAsync(new EmailRecovery { RootUserId = user.ID, CodeHash = Hash(code), ExpiresAt = DateTime.UtcNow + CodeLifetime }, token);
+
+			var email = _app.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration;
+			var message = new MimeMessage();
+			message.From.Add(new MailboxAddress("PrivaPub", email.SmtpUsername));
+			message.To.Add(MailboxAddress.Parse(user.Email));
+			message.Subject = _localizer["PrivaPub - Password recovery link"];
+			message.Body = new TextPart("plain")
+			{
+				Text = string.Format(_localizer[
+					"Hello,\n\nSomeone asked to reset the password of the PrivaPub login {0}. If it was you, open this link within an hour:\n{1}\n\nIf it was not you, ignore this email: nothing changes."],
+					user.UserName, $"{payload.Host}/password-recovery?rc={code}")
+			};
+			try
+			{
+				using var smtp = new SmtpClient();
+				await smtp.ConnectAsync(email.SmtpServer, email.SmtpPort, email.UseSSL, token);
+				await smtp.AuthenticateAsync(email.SmtpUsername, email.SmtpPassword, token);
+				await smtp.SendAsync(message, token);
+				await smtp.DisconnectAsync(quit: true, token);
+				return JobOutcome.Done;
+			}
+			catch (Exception ex) when (ex is not OperationCanceledException || !token.IsCancellationRequested)
+			{
+				_logger.LogWarning(ex, "The recovery email could not be sent");
+				return JobOutcome.Retry("smtp");
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Services/RootRemoval.cs b/PrivaPub/Services/RootRemoval.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dfee7ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PrivaPub/Services/RootRemoval.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+using MongoDB.Entities;
+
+using PrivaPub.Federation.Actors;
+using PrivaPub.Federation.Outbox;
+using PrivaPub.Federation.Rendering;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Federation;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Social;
+using PrivaPub.Models.User;
+using PrivaPub.StaticServices;
+
+using System.Text.Json.Nodes;
+
+using GroupEntity = PrivaPub.Models.Group.Group;
+using PostEntity = PrivaPub.Models.Post.Post;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.Services
+{
+	public interface IRootRemoval
+	{
+		Task<bool> Remove(string rootId, CancellationToken token);
+	}
+
+	// Deleting a root deletes everything public it had (owner decision 2026-10-04): each persona, and each group a persona
+	// owns, is announced deleted with a Delete of the actor to everyone who follows it, every member and everyone it
+	// follows; their posts are emptied; their names stay reserved, and their documents answer 410 from then on. The root's
+	// sessions end first, so nothing acts as it while it goes.
+	public class RootRemoval : IRootRemoval
+	{
+		readonly DbEntities _dbEntities;
+		readonly ILocalActorService _localActors;
+		readonly IDeliveryService _delivery;
+		readonly IRootSessions _sessions;
+
+		public RootRemoval(DbEntities dbEntities, ILocalActorService localActors, IDeliveryService delivery, IRootSessions sessions)
+		{
+			_dbEntities = dbEntities;
+			_localActors = localActors;
+			_delivery = delivery;
+			_sessions = sessions;
+		}
+
+		public async Task<bool> Remove(string rootId, CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var root = await _dbEntities.RootUsers.MatchID(rootId).Match(u => u.DeletedAt == null).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+			if (root == default)
+				return false;
+			await _sessions.Revoke(root.ID, token);
+			var now = DateTime.UtcNow;
+
+			var avatarIds = (await _dbEntities.RootToAvatars.Match(ra => ra.RootId == root.ID).ExecuteAsync(token)).Select(ra => ra.AvatarId).ToList();
+			var avatars = await _dbEntities.Avatars.Match(a => avatarIds.Contains(a.ID) && !a.DeletionAt.HasValue).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			foreach (var avatar in avatars)
+			{
+				foreach (var group in await _dbEntities.Groups.Match(g => g.OwnerAvatarId == avatar.ID && !g.DeletionAt.HasValue).ExecuteAsync(token))
+				{
+					await Announce(_localActors.FromGroup(group), group.Members.Where(m => m.IsForeign).Select(m => m.AvatarId), token);
+					await DB.Default.Update<GroupEntity>().MatchID(group.ID).Modify(g => g.DeletionAt, now).ExecuteAsync(token);
+				}
+				var persona = _localActors.FromAvatar(avatar);
+				var followed = (await _dbEntities.Followings.Match(f => f.AvatarId == avatar.ID && !f.TargetIsLocal).ExecuteAsync(token))
+					.Select(f => f.TargetActorURI);
+				await Announce(persona, followed, token);
+				await DB.Default.Update<Avatar>().MatchID(avatar.ID).Modify(a => a.DeletionAt, now).ExecuteAsync(token);
+				await Empty(avatar.ID, now, token);
+			}
+
+			await DB.Default.Update<RootUser>().MatchID(root.ID)
+				.Modify(u => u.UserName, $"deleted-{root.ID}")//unique, so a second deletion never collides with the first
+				.Modify(u => u.Email, null)
+				.Modify(u => u.HashedPassword, null)
+				.Modify(u => u.Policies, new List<string>())
+				.Modify(u => u.IsBanned, false)
+				.Modify(u => u.IsEmailValidated, false)
+				.Modify(u => u.DeletedAt, now)
+				.ExecuteAsync(token);
+			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<EmailRecovery>(r => r.RootUserId == root.ID);
+			return true;
+		}
+
+		// Delete{Actor}: to its followers' (shared) inboxes, and to the inboxes of the other accounts named
+		async Task Announce(LocalActor actor, IEnumerable<string> others, CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var inboxes = (await _delivery.FollowerInboxes(actor, token)).ToList();
+			var named = others.Where(uri => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(uri)).Distinct().ToList();
+			if (named.Count > 0)
+				inboxes.AddRange((await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(a => named.Contains(a.ActorURI)).ExecuteAsync(token))
+					.Select(a => string.IsNullOrEmpty(a.SharedInboxURL) ? a.InboxURL : a.SharedInboxURL));
+			await _delivery.Enqueue(actor, inboxes.Where(i => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(i)).Distinct(), new JsonObject
+			{
+				["@context"] = ActivityPubRenderer.Context(),
+				["id"] = actor.ActivityUri("delete-actor"),
+				["type"] = "Delete",
+				["actor"] = actor.Uri,
+				["object"] = actor.Uri,
+				["to"] = new JsonArray(ActivityPubRenderer.Public),
+				["cc"] = new JsonArray(actor.Followers)
+			}, token);
+		}
+
+		// a persona's posts keep their ids and lose their content, like a single deleted post; a group writes none of its own
+		static async Task Empty(string avatarId, DateTime now, CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var postIds = (await DB.Default.Find<PostEntity>().Match(p => p.GroupUserId == avatarId && !p.IsFederatedCopy && !p.DeletedAt.HasValue)
+				.Project(p => p.Include(x => x.ID)).ExecuteAsync(token)).Select(p => p.ID).ToList();
+			if (postIds.Count == 0)
+				return;
+			await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().Match(p => postIds.Contains(p.ID))
+				.Modify(p => p.DeletedAt, now)
+				.Modify(p => p.Text, null)
+				.Modify(p => p.ContentHtml, null)
+				.Modify(p => p.Title, null)
+				.Modify(p => p.SpoilerText, null)
+				.Modify(p => p.Media, new List<Models.Post.PostMedia>())
+				.Modify(p => p.Revisions, new List<Models.Post.PostRevision>())
+				.ExecuteAsync(token);
+			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<TimelineEntry>(e => postIds.Contains(e.PostId) || postIds.Contains(e.ReblogOfPostId));
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Services/RootSessions.cs b/PrivaPub/Services/RootSessions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eab0d2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PrivaPub/Services/RootSessions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+using MongoDB.Entities;
+
+using OpenIddict.Abstractions;
+
+using PrivaPub.Models.User;
+using PrivaPub.StaticServices;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.Services
+{
+	public interface IRootSessions
+	{
+		Task Revoke(string rootId, CancellationToken token);
+	}
+
+	// Ends everything a root is signed in with: its /clientapi tokens, through CredentialsChangedAt (checked by JwtEvents),
+	// and the Mastodon API tokens and authorizations of each of its personas. Used when its password is recovered and when
+	// it is deleted.
+	public class RootSessions : IRootSessions
+	{
+		readonly DbEntities _dbEntities;
+		readonly IOpenIddictTokenManager _tokens;
+		readonly IOpenIddictAuthorizationManager _authorizations;
+
+		public RootSessions(DbEntities dbEntities, IOpenIddictTokenManager tokens, IOpenIddictAuthorizationManager authorizations)
+		{
+			_dbEntities = dbEntities;
+			_tokens = tokens;
+			_authorizations = authorizations;
+		}
+
+		public async Task Revoke(string rootId, CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			await DB.Default.Update<RootUser>().MatchID(rootId).Modify(u => u.CredentialsChangedAt, DateTime.UtcNow).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			foreach (var link in await _dbEntities.RootToAvatars.Match(ra => ra.RootId == rootId).ExecuteAsync(token))
+			{
+				await _tokens.RevokeBySubjectAsync(link.AvatarId, token);
+				await _authorizations.RevokeBySubjectAsync(link.AvatarId, token);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/PrivaPub/Services/RootUsersService.cs b/PrivaPub/Services/RootUsersService.cs
index 46d5550..c9f4e2c 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/Services/RootUsersService.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/Services/RootUsersService.cs
@@ -14,9 +14,12 @@ using PrivaPub.ClientModels.User;
 using PrivaPub.Models;
 using PrivaPub.Models.User;
 using PrivaPub.Resources;
+using PrivaPub.Infrastructure.Jobs;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Jobs;
 using PrivaPub.StaticServices;
 
 using System.Globalization;
+using System.Text.Json;
 
 #pragma warning disable 8603
 #pragma warning disable 8625
@@ -31,8 +34,14 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 		readonly ILogger<RootUsersService> Logger;
 		readonly AppConfigurationService AppConfigurationService;
 		readonly AuthTokenManager AuthTokenManager;
+		readonly IJobQueue Jobs;
+		readonly IRootSessions Sessions;
+		readonly IRootRemoval Removal;
 
 		public RootUsersService(
+			IJobQueue jobs,
+			IRootSessions sessions,
+			IRootRemoval removal,
 			IStringLocalizer<GenericRes> localizer,
 			ILogger<RootUsersService> logger,
 			IPasswordHasher passwordHasher,
@@ -40,6 +49,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 			AppConfigurationService appConfigurationService,
 			AuthTokenManager authTokenManager)
 		{
+			Jobs = jobs;
+			Sessions = sessions;
+			Removal = removal;
 			DbEntities = dbEntities;
 			AuthTokenManager = authTokenManager;
 			PasswordHasher = passwordHasher;
@@ -48,6 +60,12 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 			AppConfigurationService = appConfigurationService;
 		}
 
+		public const string NoMatch = "That username and password do not match.";
+		static string _decoy;
+
+		// a hash nobody's password matches, so an unknown login costs the same hashing as a wrong password
+		string Decoy => _decoy ??= PasswordHasher.Hash(Convert.ToHexString(System.Security.Cryptography.RandomNumberGenerator.GetBytes(16)));
+
 		public async Task<WebResult> SignUpAsync(LoginForm signUpForm, string invitationCode = default,
 			bool isPasswordRequired = false)
 		{
@@ -114,20 +132,16 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 			var result = new WebResult();
 			try
 			{
+				// One answer, after the same work, whether the login is unknown, deleted or the password wrong: sign-in must not
+				// tell anyone which logins exist. Only someone who knows the password learns the login is banned.
 				loginForm.UserName = loginForm.UserName.ToLower();
-				if (!await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => u.UserName == loginForm.UserName && u.DeletedAt == null)
-							.ExecuteAnyAsync())
-					return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Username '{0}' not found.", loginForm.UserName]);
-
-				var user = await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => u.UserName == loginForm.UserName).ExecuteFirstAsync();
+				var user = await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => u.UserName == loginForm.UserName && u.DeletedAt == null).ExecuteFirstAsync();
+				var (verified, needsUpgrade) = PasswordHasher.Check(user?.HashedPassword ?? Decoy, loginForm.Password);
+				if (user?.HashedPassword == default || !verified)
+					return result.Invalidate(Localizer[NoMatch]);
 				if (user.IsBanned)
 					return result.Invalidate(Localizer["User '{0}' banned.", user.UserName]);
 
-				var (verified, needsUpgrade) = PasswordHasher.Check(user.HashedPassword, loginForm.Password);
-
-				if (!verified)
-					return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Wrong password."]);
-
 				if (needsUpgrade)
 					result.ErrorMessage = Localizer["Needs upgrade!"];
 
@@ -261,24 +275,12 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 			var result = new WebResult();
 			try
 			{
-				var users = await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => usersIds.UserIdList.Contains(u.ID) && u.DeletedAt == default).ExecuteAsync();
-				if (users == null || users.Count == 0)
+				var removed = 0;
+				foreach (var id in usersIds.UserIdList.Distinct())
+					if (await Removal.Remove(id, CancellationToken.None))
+						removed++;
+				if (removed == 0)
 					return result.Invalidate(Localizer["User already deleted."]);
-
-				foreach (var user in users)
-				{
-					user.Email = Localizer["Deleted user"];
-					user.HashedPassword = null;
-					user.Policies.Clear();
-					user.IsBanned = false;
-					user.IsEmailValidated = false;
-					//user.TempSecret = null;
-					user.UserName = Localizer["Deleted user"];
-					user.DeletedAt = DateTime.UtcNow;
-
-					await DB.Default.SaveAsync(user);
-				}
-
 				return result;
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex)
@@ -288,6 +290,26 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 			}
 		}
 
+		// A root deletes itself only with its password, so a stolen session cannot.
+		public async Task<WebResult> RemoveSelfAsync(string rootId, string password)
+		{
+			var result = new WebResult();
+			try
+			{
+				var user = await DbEntities.RootUsers.MatchID(rootId).Match(u => u.DeletedAt == null).ExecuteFirstAsync();
+				var (verified, _) = PasswordHasher.Check(user?.HashedPassword ?? Decoy, password ?? string.Empty);
+				if (user?.HashedPassword == default || !verified)
+					return result.Invalidate(Localizer[NoMatch], StatusCodes.Status403Forbidden);
+				await Removal.Remove(user.ID, CancellationToken.None);
+				return result;
+			}
+			catch (Exception ex)
+			{
+				Logger.LogError(ex, $"{nameof(RootUsersService)}.{nameof(RemoveSelfAsync)}()");
+				return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Something went wrong."], exception: ex);
+			}
+		}
+
 		public async Task<WebResult> BanUserAsync(UsersIds usersIds)
 		{
 			var result = new WebResult();
@@ -354,141 +376,22 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 			}
 		}
 
+		public const string RecoverySent = "If that account has an email address, a recovery link is on its way. It works for one hour.";
+
+		// The same answer, after the same work, whether the account exists, has an email or can be written to: recovery must
+		// not tell anyone which logins or addresses exist. RecoveryJob does the rest, out of the request.
 		public async Task<WebResult> SetupAndSendRecoveryEmail(PasswordRecoveryForm passwordRecoveryForm, string host)
 		{
 			var result = new WebResult();
 			try
 			{
-				var usernameExists = false;
-				if (passwordRecoveryForm.IsEmailDisabled)
-				{
-					if (!await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => u.UserName == passwordRecoveryForm.UserName && u.DeletedAt == null)
-								.ExecuteAnyAsync())
-						return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Username '{0}' not found.", passwordRecoveryForm.UserName],
-							StatusCodes.Status404NotFound);
-					usernameExists = true;
-				}
-				else
-				{
-					if (!await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => u.Email == passwordRecoveryForm.Email && u.DeletedAt == null)
-								.ExecuteAnyAsync())
-						return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Username '{0}' not found.", passwordRecoveryForm.UserName],
-							StatusCodes.Status404NotFound);
-				}
-
-				var user = default(RootUser);
-				if (usernameExists)
-					user = await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => u.UserName == passwordRecoveryForm.UserName).ExecuteFirstAsync();
-				else
-					user = await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => u.Email == passwordRecoveryForm.Email).ExecuteFirstAsync();
-
-				if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(user.Email))
-					return result.Invalidate(Localizer["This User doesn't have an email, no way to recover."],
-						StatusCodes.Status423Locked);
-
-				var emailRecovery = await DbEntities.EmailRecoveries
-					.Match(er => er.RootUserId == user.ID).ExecuteFirstAsync();
-
-				if (emailRecovery is null)
-				{
-					emailRecovery = new()
-					{
-						RootUserId = user.ID
-					};
-					await DB.Default.SaveAsync(emailRecovery);
-				}
-
-				using var recoveryCodeGenerator = new Password(true, true, true, false, 127);
-				emailRecovery.RecoveryCode = recoveryCodeGenerator.Next();
-				await DB.Default.SaveAsync(emailRecovery);
-
-				using (var smtpClient = new SmtpClient())
-				{
-					try
-					{
-						await smtpClient.ConnectAsync(AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpServer, AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpPort,
-							AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.UseSSL);
-						if (!smtpClient.IsConnected)
-						{
-							Logger.LogError($"Failed to connect to the SMTP server({AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpServer}).");
-							return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Failed to send email."], StatusCodes.Status503ServiceUnavailable);
-						}
-					}
-					catch (Exception ex)
-					{
-						Logger.LogError(ex, $"Error at connection to the SMTP server({AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpServer}).");
-						return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Failed to send email."], StatusCodes.Status503ServiceUnavailable, exception: ex);
-					}
-
-					try
-					{
-						await smtpClient.AuthenticateAsync(AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpUsername, AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpPassword);
-						if (!smtpClient.IsAuthenticated)
-						{
-							Logger.LogError($"Failed SMTP authentication of {AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpUsername}.");
-							return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Failed to send email."],
-								StatusCodes.Status503ServiceUnavailable);
-						}
-					}
-					catch (Exception ex)
-					{
-						Logger.LogError(ex, $"Failed SMTP authentication of {AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpUsername}.");
-						return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Failed to send email."],
-							StatusCodes.Status503ServiceUnavailable, exception: ex);
-					}
-
-					try
-					{
-						var toParsed = await smtpClient.VerifyAsync(user.Email);
-						if (toParsed == null)
-							return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Invalid email."], StatusCodes.Status400BadRequest);
-					}
-					catch (OperationCanceledException ex)
-					{
-						Logger.LogWarning(
-							"SMTP operation canceled at email verification: {Error}", ex.Message);
-					}
-					catch (SmtpCommandException ex)
-					{
-						Logger.LogWarning(
-							"SMTP command exception at email verification: {Error}", ex.Message);
-					}
-					catch (SmtpProtocolException ex)
-					{
-						Logger.LogWarning(
-							"SMTP protocol exception at email verification: {Error}", ex.Message);
-					}
-					catch (Exception ex)
-					{
-						Logger.LogWarning("Exception at email verification: {Error}", ex.Message);
-					}
-
-					var message = new MimeMessage();
-					message.From.Add(new MailboxAddress("PrivaPub", AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpUsername));
-					message.To.Add(MailboxAddress.Parse(user.Email));
-					message.Subject = Localizer["PrivaPub - Password recovery link"];
-					message.Body = new TextPart("plain")
-					{
-						Text = string.Format(Localizer[@"Hey {0},
-
-Eugene from collAnon, following is the password recovery link:
-{1}
-
--- Eugene"], user.UserName, $"{host}/password-recovery?rc={emailRecovery.RecoveryCode}")
-					};
-					try
-					{
-						await smtpClient.SendAsync(message);
-					}
-					catch (Exception ex)
-					{
-						Logger.LogError(ex, $"Error at email sending to {user.Email} from {AppConfigurationService.AppConfiguration.EmailConfiguration.SmtpUsername}.");
-						return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Failed to send email."], StatusCodes.Status503ServiceUnavailable, exception: ex);
-					}
-
-					await smtpClient.DisconnectAsync(quit: true);
-				}
-
+				var userName = passwordRecoveryForm.UserName?.ToLowerInvariant();
+				var user = passwordRecoveryForm.IsEmailDisabled
+					? await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => u.UserName == userName && u.DeletedAt == null).ExecuteFirstAsync()
+					: await DbEntities.RootUsers.Match(u => u.Email == passwordRecoveryForm.Email && u.DeletedAt == null).ExecuteFirstAsync();
+				await Jobs.Enqueue(JobKind.SendRecovery, JsonSerializer.Serialize(new RecoveryPayload(user?.ID, host)), RecoveryJob.Host,
+					dedupeKey: default, CancellationToken.None);
+				result.Data = Localizer[RecoverySent].Value;
 				return result;
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex)
@@ -498,16 +401,19 @@ Eugene from collAnon, following is the password recovery link:
 			}
 		}
 
+		Task<EmailRecovery> LiveRecovery(string recoveryCode)
+		{
+			var hash = RecoveryJob.Hash(recoveryCode);
+			var now = DateTime.UtcNow;
+			return DbEntities.EmailRecoveries.Match(er => er.CodeHash == hash && er.ExpiresAt > now).ExecuteFirstAsync();
+		}
+
 		public async Task<WebResult> IsValidRecoveryCode(string recoveryCode)
 		{
 			var result = new WebResult();
 			try
 			{
-				var isValidRecoveryCode = await DbEntities.EmailRecoveries
-					.Match(er => er.RecoveryCode == recoveryCode).ExecuteAnyAsync();
-
-				result.Data = isValidRecoveryCode;
-
+				result.Data = await LiveRecovery(recoveryCode) != default;
 				return result;
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex)
@@ -516,33 +422,24 @@ Eugene from collAnon, following is the password recovery link:
 			}
 		}
 
+		// A recovered password ends every session the root had: whoever had them may be why it was recovered.
 		public async Task<WebResult> ChangePassword(NewPasswordForm newPasswordForm)
 		{
 			var result = new WebResult();
 			try
 			{
-				var isValidRecoveryCode = await DbEntities.EmailRecoveries
-					.Match(er => er.RecoveryCode == newPasswordForm.RecoveryCode).ExecuteAnyAsync();
-				if (!isValidRecoveryCode)
+				var recovery = await LiveRecovery(newPasswordForm.RecoveryCode);
+				var user = recovery == default ? default
+					: await DbEntities.RootUsers.MatchID(recovery.RootUserId).Match(u => u.DeletedAt == null && !u.IsBanned).ExecuteFirstAsync();
+				if (user == default)
 					return result.Invalidate(Localizer["Invalid recovery code."], StatusCodes.Status404NotFound);
 
-				var emailRecovery = await DbEntities.EmailRecoveries
-					.Match(er => er.RecoveryCode == newPasswordForm.RecoveryCode)
-					.Project(er => er.Include(nameof(EmailRecovery.RootUserId)))
-					.ExecuteFirstAsync();
-
-				if (emailRecovery is null || emailRecovery.RootUserId is null)
-					return result.Invalidate(Localizer["User not found."]);
-
-				var newHashedPassword = PasswordHasher.Hash(newPasswordForm.NewPassword);
-
-				_ = await DB.Default.Update<RootUser>()
-					.Match(u => u.ID == emailRecovery.RootUserId && u.DeletedAt == null)
-					.Modify(u => u.HashedPassword, newHashedPassword)
+				await DB.Default.Update<RootUser>().MatchID(user.ID)
+					.Modify(u => u.HashedPassword, PasswordHasher.Hash(newPasswordForm.NewPassword))
+					.Modify(u => u.UpdatedAt, DateTime.UtcNow)
 					.ExecuteAsync();
-
-				_ = await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<EmailRecovery>(er => er.RecoveryCode == newPasswordForm.RecoveryCode);
-
+				await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<EmailRecovery>(er => er.RootUserId == user.ID);
+				await Sessions.Revoke(user.ID, CancellationToken.None);
 				return result;
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex)
diff --git a/PrivaPub/StaticServices/AuthTokenManager.cs b/PrivaPub/StaticServices/AuthTokenManager.cs
index aabb74a..5d4e1aa 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/StaticServices/AuthTokenManager.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/StaticServices/AuthTokenManager.cs
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.StaticServices
 
 			var token = new JwtSecurityToken(issuer: Configuration["AppConfiguration:Jwt:Issuer"], audience: Configuration["AppConfiguration:Jwt:Audience"],
 					claims: claims,
+					notBefore: DateTime.UtcNow,//its issue time, which JwtEvents compares with RootUser.CredentialsChangedAt
 					expires: expiration,
 					signingCredentials: new(securityKey, SecurityAlgorithms.HmacSha512)
 			);
diff --git a/PrivaPub/StaticServices/PasswordHasher.cs b/PrivaPub/StaticServices/PasswordHasher.cs
index e6500d2..eaa88b1 100644
--- a/PrivaPub/StaticServices/PasswordHasher.cs
+++ b/PrivaPub/StaticServices/PasswordHasher.cs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.StaticServices
 			using (var algorithm = new Rfc2898DeriveBytes(password, salt, iterations, HashAlgorithmName.SHA512))
 			{
 				var keyToCheck = algorithm.GetBytes(KeySize);
-				var verified = keyToCheck.SequenceEqual(key);
+				var verified = CryptographicOperations.FixedTimeEquals(keyToCheck, key);
 				return (verified, needsUpgrade);
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/tools/pasture/scenarios/gts.sh b/tools/pasture/scenarios/gts.sh
index 98111f5..624cc78 100644
--- a/tools/pasture/scenarios/gts.sh
+++ b/tools/pasture/scenarios/gts.sh
@@ -165,8 +165,10 @@ until_true 20 '[ "$(gcurl -s -H "$GH" "$G/api/v1/accounts/relationships?id[]=$ci
 curl -s -o /dev/null -X POST $P/clientapi/post/insert -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -H "Authorization: Bearer $jwt" \
 	-d "{\"avatarId\":\"$alice_id\",\"text\":\"only the circle on GoToSocial sees this\",\"groupId\":\"$circle\"}"
 circle_uri=$(podman exec pasture-mongo mongosh --quiet PrivaPub --eval 'print(db.Post.findOne({Text:/only the circle on GoToSocial/}).ObjectURI)')
-# GoToSocial keeps no post addressed only to a collection it does not know, so each member's copy names that member
-until_true 15 '[ "$(on_gts "$circle_uri" | j "print(len(d[\"statuses\"]))")" = "1" ]' \
+# GoToSocial files a post for neither the public nor the author's followers as a direct message (as it does our DMs),
+# shown only to the accounts it mentions; so each member's copy names and silently mentions that member. Like a DM it
+# is then in gtsuser's conversations, never in a search by URI.
+until_true 15 'gcurl -s -H "$GH" "$G/api/v1/conversations" | grep -q "only the circle on GoToSocial sees this"' \
 	&& ok "a circle post, naming its member, reaches its GoToSocial member" || ko "circle post missing on GoToSocial" 
 [ "$(pfetch -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' -H 'Accept: application/activity+json' "$circle_uri")" = "404" ] && ok "the circle post is not served unsigned" || ko "circle post served unsigned"