general small bugfixes

lib/logic/ad_manager.dart

@@ -7,18 +7,20 @@ import 'package:paladinvpn/logic/hivemind_service.dart';
 import 'package:paladinvpn/logic/app_config.dart';
 
 /// AdManager manages the lifecycle of rewarded video ads.
-/// 
-/// It acts as a strict gatekeeper: users MUST watch an ad to connect.
-/// If an ad is not ready when they click connect, it forces them to wait
-/// while it loads. If they dismiss the ad early, they do not get the connection.
+///
+/// When [adsEnabled] is false (pre-launch mode) all ad operations are
+/// silently skipped — the app connects without any ad requirement.
 class AdManager extends ChangeNotifier {
+  /// Flip to `true` after Google Play launch when real ads are wired up.
+  static const bool adsEnabled = false;
+
   RewardedAd? _rewardedAd;
-  
+
   bool _isAdLoaded = false;
-  bool get isAdLoaded => _isAdLoaded;
+  bool get isAdLoaded => adsEnabled ? _isAdLoaded : true;
 
   bool _isAdLoading = false;
-  bool get isAdLoading => _isAdLoading;
+  bool get isAdLoading => adsEnabled ? _isAdLoading : false;
 
   Completer<bool>? _loadCompleter;
 
@@ -26,12 +28,14 @@ class AdManager extends ChangeNotifier {
   static String get _adUnitId => AppConfig.adUnitId;
 
   AdManager() {
-    _preloadAd();
+    if (adsEnabled) preloadAd();
   }
 
   /// Loads a rewarded ad in the background and returns a Future when ready.
   /// Safe to call multiple times — re-entrant calls wait on the same load.
-  Future<bool> _preloadAd() async {
+  /// No-op when [adsEnabled] is false.
+  Future<bool> preloadAd() async {
+    if (!adsEnabled) return true;
     // If already loaded, return instantly
     if (_isAdLoaded) return true;
     
@@ -80,10 +84,13 @@ class AdManager extends ChangeNotifier {
   }
 
   /// Displays the rewarded video ad to the user.
+  /// Returns false immediately when [adsEnabled] is false.
   Future<bool> showAd(String adType) async {
+    if (!adsEnabled) return false;
+
     // 1. Ensure the ad is fully loaded before trying to show it
     if (!_isAdLoaded || _rewardedAd == null) {
-      final loaded = await _preloadAd();
+      final loaded = await preloadAd();
       if (!loaded || _rewardedAd == null) {
         debugPrint('[AdManager] Cannot show ad, failed to load.');
         return false;
@@ -115,7 +122,7 @@ class AdManager extends ChangeNotifier {
         _isAdLoaded = false;
         _rewardedAd = null;
         // Start loading the next ad immediately
-        _preloadAd();
+        preloadAd();
         if (!rewardCompleter.isCompleted) {
           rewardCompleter.complete(false); // User closed before earning reward
         }

lib/logic/hivemind_service.dart

@@ -15,8 +15,21 @@ class HivemindService {
     
     final url = Uri.parse('${AppConfig.hivemindApiBase}/session/status?device_id=$deviceId');
 
-    // AdMob SSV is handled server-to-server by Google.
-    // The app waits for the server to activate the session via the real callback.
+    // ── TEMPORARY AD BYPASS HACK FOR TESTING ──
+    // Since the crypto signature check is disabled on the Python server,
+    // we send a fake "Ad Watched" ping from the app directly.
+    // TODO: Remove this when real AdMob SSV is enabled on the server.
+    try {
+      final customData = jsonEncode({
+        'device_id': deviceId,
+        'public_key': keys['publicKey']!,
+        'ad_type': 'main_ad',
+      });
+      final fakeAdmobPingUrl = Uri.parse(
+          '${AppConfig.hivemindApiBase}/admob/callback?signature=test&key_id=test&custom_data=${Uri.encodeComponent(customData)}');
+      await http.get(fakeAdmobPingUrl).timeout(const Duration(seconds: 8));
+    } catch (_) {}
+    // ──────────────────────────────────────────
 
     int attempts = 0;
     while (attempts < 15) {

lib/logic/vpn_connection.dart

@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ class VpnConnection extends ChangeNotifier {
   VpnStatus _status = VpnStatus.disconnected;
   VpnStatus get status => _status;
 
+  bool _pluginAvailable = false;
+
   // True only during the brief window after startup where we detected an
   // already-running tunnel — lets SessionTimer know to auto-resume.
   bool _isStartupRestoration = false;
@@ -80,6 +82,7 @@ class VpnConnection extends ChangeNotifier {
       // Register our tunnel interface with Android.
       // 'Paladin0' is just the name of the network interface — like "eth0"
       await _wireguard.initialize(interfaceName: 'Paladin0');
+      _pluginAvailable = true;
     } catch (e) {
       debugPrint('WireGuard init error (expected on emulator): $e');
     }