Next Sight Silent Observer

A discreet personal safety application designed to protect and empower domestic violence victims

Features • Installation • Usage • Security • Development • License

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🛡️ About

Next Sight Silent Observer is a sophisticated desktop application that provides automatic evidence collection for individuals in potentially dangerous domestic situations. The application runs silently in the background, monitoring for specific audio triggers (keywords or sounds) and automatically recording when potential incidents are detected.

Purpose

This application was developed to provide victims of domestic violence with a discreet tool for documenting incidents, which can be crucial for:

• Legal proceedings
• Protection order applications
• Personal safety planning
• Evidence preservation

Key Principles

• Privacy First: All recordings are encrypted and stored locally
• Discreet Operation: Runs invisibly in the system tray
• Automatic Protection: No user interaction required during incidents
• Legal Compliance: Designed with recording laws in mind

✨ Features

Core Functionality

• 🎙️ Continuous Audio Monitoring: Maintains a rolling buffer of audio recordings
• 🔍 Smart Trigger Detection: Activates recording based on keywords, sounds, or silence patterns
• 📧 Automatic Evidence Delivery: Sends recordings via email to trusted contacts
• 🔐 Military-Grade Encryption: All recordings are encrypted with AES-256
• 🔇 Silent Operation: Runs invisibly in the background
• 📊 Speech-to-Text: Automatic transcription using Google Cloud Speech API
• 🚨 Multi-Trigger Support: Keywords, sound events, and unusual silence patterns
• 💾 Secure Storage: Password-protected local storage with automatic cleanup
• 🔄 Auto-Updates: Automatic updates for all platforms

Security Features

• Password Protection: Master password with PBKDF2 key derivation
• Encrypted Storage: All data encrypted at rest
• Secure Communication: TLS for all network operations
• Auto-Lock: Automatic session timeout
• Data Sanitization: Input validation and sanitization

User Experience

• System Tray Integration: Minimal UI footprint
• Setup Wizard: Easy initial configuration
• Real-Time Status: Visual feedback on recording status
• Auto-Start Option: Launch with system startup
• Stealth Mode: No visible windows or indicators

📦 Installation

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10+, macOS 10.14+, or Linux (Ubuntu 18.04+)
• Memory: 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
• Storage: 500MB for application + space for recordings
• Network: Internet connection for email backup (optional)

Platform Support

Platform	Version	Architecture	Installer
Windows	10 (1903+), 11	x64	NSIS (.exe)
macOS	10.15+	x64, arm64	DMG, ZIP
Linux	Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, Fedora 34+	x64	AppImage, DEB, RPM

Quick Installation

Windows

Download and run the .exe installer from the releases page.

macOS

Download the .dmg file, open it, and drag the app to Applications.

Linux

Download the .AppImage, make it executable (chmod +x), and run it.

For detailed installation instructions, see INSTALLATION.md.

🚀 Usage

Initial Setup

1. Launch the Application

   • The setup wizard will guide you through initial configuration

2. Set Master Password

   • Choose a strong password (12+ characters)
   • This password encrypts all your data

3. Configure Detection Settings

   • Add trigger keywords (e.g., "help", "stop", "no")
   • Set recording duration (default: 60 seconds)
   • Configure silence threshold

4. Email Backup (Optional)

   • Enter SMTP server details
   • Add backup email addresses
   • Test email configuration

5. System Permissions

   • Grant microphone access
   • Enable auto-start (optional)

Daily Operation

Once configured, the application runs automatically:

• Green Icon: Monitoring active, no recording
• Red Icon: Recording in progress
• Yellow Icon: Processing/uploading recording

Accessing Recordings

1. Right-click the system tray icon
2. Select "Settings" → "Recordings"
3. Enter your master password
4. View, play, or export recordings

🔒 Security

Encryption

• Recordings: AES-256-CBC encryption
• Password: PBKDF2 with 100,000 iterations
• Storage: Device-specific encryption keys
• Transport: TLS 1.2+ for all network operations

Privacy

• Local Storage: All data stored on your device
• No Cloud: No third-party cloud services used
• No Analytics: Zero tracking or telemetry
• Open Source: Full source code transparency

Best Practices

1. Use a Strong Password: 12+ characters with mixed case, numbers, and symbols
2. Regular Backups: Enable email backup for redundancy
3. Secure Email: Use app-specific passwords for email
4. Update Regularly: Install security updates promptly

🔧 Configuration

Configuration File

Settings are stored in:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\NSSilentObserver\config.json
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/NSSilentObserver/config.json
• Linux: ~/.config/NSSilentObserver/config.json

Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the application directory:

# Encryption
ENCRYPTION_SALT=your-unique-salt-here
MASTER_KEY_ITERATIONS=100000

# Email Configuration
SMTP_HOST=smtp.gmail.com
SMTP_PORT=587
SMTP_SECURE=false
SMTP_USER=your-email@gmail.com
SMTP_PASS=your-app-password

# Recording Settings
MAX_RECORDING_DURATION_MINUTES=30
PRE_BUFFER_SECONDS=30
SILENCE_THRESHOLD_SECONDS=300

# Application
AUTO_START_ON_BOOT=true
HIDE_ON_STARTUP=true
LOG_LEVEL=info
DEBUG_MODE=false

👨‍💻 Development

Prerequisites

• Node.js 16.x or higher
• npm or yarn
• Git

Setup

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/ZvonkoNS/NSSilentObserver.git
   cd NSSilentObserver

2. Install dependencies

   npm install

3. Set up environment

   cp .env.example .env
   # Edit .env with your configuration

4. Run in development

   npm run dev

Building

# Build for current platform
npm run build

# Build for specific platform
npm run build:win
npm run build:mac
npm run build:linux

# Build for all platforms
npm run build:all

Testing

# Run all tests
npm test

# Run with coverage
npm test -- --coverage

# Run in watch mode
npm test -- --watch

Project Structure

NSSilentObserver/
├── src/
│   ├── main/              # Main process code
│   │   ├── services/      # Core services
│   │   ├── main.ts        # Entry point
│   │   └── preload.ts     # Preload script
│   ├── renderer/          # Renderer process code
│   │   ├── components/    # React components
│   │   ├── App.tsx        # Main app component
│   │   └── index.tsx      # Renderer entry
│   └── shared/            # Shared types/utilities
├── assets/                # Icons and images
├── scripts/               # Build scripts
├── webpack.*.js           # Webpack configs
└── package.json           # Project metadata

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions that improve safety and privacy for our users. Please read our Contributing Guidelines before submitting PRs.

Security Vulnerabilities

If you discover a security vulnerability, please email security@next-sight.com instead of using the issue tracker.

📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

⚖️ Legal Notice

This software is designed to help protect victims of domestic violence. Users are responsible for complying with local recording laws. In many jurisdictions, recording conversations requires consent from all parties. Please consult with a legal professional if you're unsure about the laws in your area.

🆘 Resources

If you're experiencing domestic violence, please reach out for help:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline (US): 1-800-799-7233
• Women's Aid (UK): 0808 2000 247
• 1800RESPECT (Australia): 1800 737 732
• Local Emergency Services: 911 (US), 999 (UK), 112 (EU)

📞 Contact

Next Sight Ltd.
Brnčičeva ulica 13
1231 Ljubljana
Slovenia

Email: info@next-sight.com
Website: https://next-sight.com
Support: support@next-sight.com

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Made with ❤️ by Next Sight Ltd. to protect those who need it most