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Manual Check-in

Complete your activity check-in

If you have an inactivity policy active, you must complete regular check-ins to prevent your vault from being released. This guide covers all check-in methods.

What is a Check-in?​

A check-in is your periodic confirmation that you're active and have access to your account.

Why Check-ins Matter:

  • Prevents accidental vault release
  • Proves you're safe and have access
  • Maintains your control over vault

What Happens if You Miss Check-in:

  1. Grace period begins (24-72 hours depending on plan)
  2. Urgent reminders sent
  3. If grace period expires, vault releases to recipients

Check-in Methods​

Method 1: Email Check-in (Easiest)​

Step 1: Receive Email Reminder​

  • Torvus sends check-in reminder before due date
  • Subject: "Torvus Security: Check-in Required"
  • Contains secure one-click check-in link
  1. Open email
  2. Click "Complete Check-in" button
  3. Browser opens to Torvus Security
  4. Check-in completes automatically

Done! Next check-in scheduled.

Security: Link is unique and expires after use.

Method 2: SMS Check-in​

Step 1: Receive SMS Reminder​

  • Text message with check-in code
  • Example: "Torvus check-in due. Reply with code: 8472"

Step 2: Reply with Code​

  1. Reply to text message
  2. Enter check-in code
  3. Send message

Done! You'll receive confirmation text.

Setup Required: Add phone number to profile and enable SMS check-ins.

Step 1: Receive Push Notification​

  • Push notification on your phone
  • "Torvus check-in due"

Step 2: Open App​

  1. Tap notification
  2. App opens to check-in screen

Step 3: Complete Check-in​

  1. Tap "Complete Check-in" button
  2. Authenticate with biometric (Face ID / Touch ID / Fingerprint)
  3. Check-in completes

Done! Next check-in scheduled.

Benefits:

  • Fastest method
  • Biometric security
  • Works offline (syncs when online)

Method 4: Web Check-in​

Step 1: Log in to Torvus​

  1. Navigate to app.torvussecurity.com
  2. Log in with email and password
  3. Complete 2FA

Step 2: Complete Check-in​

  1. Dashboard shows "Check-in Due" banner
  2. Click "Complete Check-in"
  3. Confirm action

Done! Next check-in scheduled.

Alternative:

  1. Navigate to vault with active inactivity policy
  2. Click "Policies" tab
  3. Click "Check-in Now"

Method 5: API Check-in (Advanced)​

For automated check-ins from your systems:

curl -X POST https://api.torvussecurity.com/v1/check-ins \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"vault_id": "vault_abc123"}'

See Check-ins API for full documentation.

Use Cases:

  • Automated check-ins from monitoring systems
  • Integration with existing heartbeat services
  • Custom check-in workflows

Check-in Frequency​

Your check-in frequency is set when configuring your inactivity policy:

Daily: Every 24 hours Weekly: Every 7 days Biweekly: Every 14 days Monthly: Every 30 days (most common)

To Change Frequency:

  1. Navigate to vault → Policies tab
  2. Edit inactivity policy
  3. Update check-in frequency
  4. Save changes

Grace Period​

If you miss a check-in, you have a grace period before vault releases:

PlanGrace Period
Free24 hours
Standard48 hours
Professional72 hours
EnterpriseCustom (up to 7 days)

During Grace Period:

  • Urgent reminders sent via email, SMS, push notification
  • Complete check-in anytime to cancel release
  • Countdown timer shows time remaining

Check-in Reminders​

Reminder Schedule​

Advance Reminders (before check-in due):

  • 3 days before (monthly/biweekly)
  • 1 day before (all frequencies)
  • Day of (check-in due today)

Grace Period Reminders (after missed check-in):

  • Immediately when grace period begins
  • Every 6 hours during grace period
  • Final reminder 1 hour before release

Reminder Channels​

Email:

  • Enabled by default
  • Detailed check-in instructions
  • One-click check-in link

SMS:

  • Optional (requires phone number)
  • Brief reminder
  • Check-in code or link

Push Notification:

  • If mobile app installed
  • Tap to open app and check in

In-App:

  • Banner in Torvus web interface
  • Check-in button visible

Check-in Best Practices​

✅ DO​

  • Set calendar reminders: Add check-in due dates to your calendar
  • Enable multiple channels: Email + SMS + push notification for redundancy
  • Check in early: Don't wait until due date
  • Use mobile app: Fastest and most convenient method
  • Complete check-in while traveling: Set reminder before trips
  • Inform trusted person: Tell someone about check-in requirement (can remind you)

❌ DON'T​

  • Ignore reminders: Complete check-in promptly
  • Rely on single notification method: Email might go to spam
  • Wait until last minute: Check in when you receive first reminder
  • Miss check-ins regularly: Defeats purpose of inactivity policy
  • Automate check-ins without thought: Automation should still require your active involvement

Missed Check-in Recovery​

If You Miss Check-in​

Step 1: Check Grace Period Status

  1. Log in to Torvus
  2. Dashboard shows grace period countdown
  3. Note how much time remains

Step 2: Complete Check-in Immediately

  1. Use any check-in method (email link, app, web)
  2. Check-in completes
  3. Grace period is canceled
  4. Next check-in scheduled normally

Step 3: Review Cause

  • Why did you miss check-in?
  • Were reminders sent to spam?
  • Did you change email address?
  • Was check-in frequency too high?

Step 4: Adjust if Needed

  • Change check-in frequency if too burdensome
  • Update email address
  • Enable additional reminder channels
  • Consider mobile app for push notifications

If Grace Period Expires​

What Happens:

  1. Vault releases to designated recipients
  2. Recipients receive notification
  3. Recipients gain access based on permission level
  4. You receive notification that release occurred

Can You Reverse Release?:

  • Free/Standard: Cannot automatically reverse release
  • Professional/Enterprise: Can revoke recipient access manually

Next Steps:

  1. Contact recipients and explain (if false alarm)
  2. Ask recipients not to access vault
  3. Revoke access if Professional plan
  4. Complete check-in to re-establish schedule
  5. Consider longer grace period or check-in frequency adjustment

Check-in While Traveling​

International Travel​

Before Trip:

  1. Complete check-in
  2. Enable SMS check-ins (if available internationally)
  3. Download mobile app
  4. Set calendar reminder for next check-in
  5. Consider pausing policy if extended trip to remote area

During Trip:

  • Check in early (when you have reliable internet)
  • Use hotel/airport Wi-Fi for check-in
  • Mobile app works offline (syncs when online)

If No Internet Access:

  • Complete check-in during grace period when you reach connectivity
  • Consider pausing policy before trip to remote areas

Extended Absence​

Scenarios:

  • Medical procedure with recovery
  • Remote wilderness expedition
  • International travel to areas with limited connectivity

Option 1: Pause Policy

  1. Navigate to policy before absence
  2. Click "Pause Policy"
  3. Policy stops monitoring
  4. Resume when you return

Option 2: Extend Check-in Frequency

  1. Before absence, change check-in frequency
  2. Example: Change from weekly to monthly
  3. Provides more time between check-ins

Option 3: Designate Check-in Proxy (Enterprise)

  • Authorize someone to check in on your behalf
  • Useful for planned absences

Check-in History​

View Check-in History​

  1. Navigate to vault
  2. Click "Policies" tab
  3. Click inactivity policy
  4. Click "Check-in History" tab

Information Shown:

  • Check-in date and time
  • Check-in method (email, SMS, app, web, API)
  • IP address and location
  • Device information
  • Status (on time, late, missed)

Export Check-in History​

Professional plan feature:

  1. Navigate to check-in history
  2. Click "Export"
  3. Select date range
  4. Download CSV

Use Cases:

  • Compliance documentation
  • Personal records
  • Proof of activity

Automated Check-ins​

Using API for Automation​

Scenario: Automatically check in from your monitoring system

Setup:

  1. Generate API key in Torvus settings
  2. Integrate API call into your system
  3. Schedule automated check-in
  4. Monitor for failures

Example: Check in automatically when your personal server pings successfully, or when you commit code to GitHub.

Important: Automation should still require your active involvement (server must be running, you must be committing code, etc.). Fully passive automation defeats the purpose of check-ins.

Heartbeat Integration​

Scenario: Integrate with existing heartbeat/monitoring service

Supported Integrations (Professional/Enterprise):

  • PagerDuty
  • UptimeRobot
  • Healthchecks.io
  • Custom webhook

How It Works:

  1. Your monitoring service sends heartbeat
  2. Torvus receives heartbeat
  3. If heartbeat received, check-in completes automatically
  4. If heartbeat stops, check-in is missed and grace period begins

Troubleshooting​

Not Receiving Check-in Reminders​

Possible Causes:

  • Email in spam folder
  • Email address incorrect
  • Notification settings disabled
  • Mobile app notifications disabled

Solutions:

  1. Check spam folder and whitelist @torvussecurity.com
  2. Verify email address in profile
  3. Check notification settings in vault policy
  4. Enable push notifications in mobile app settings

Possible Causes:

  • Link expired (used already or too old)
  • Browser security blocking link

Solutions:

  1. Use alternative check-in method (log in to web interface)
  2. Request new check-in link
  3. Use mobile app instead

Completed Check-in But System Shows Missed​

Possible Causes:

  • Check-in didn't sync (mobile app offline)
  • Browser error during check-in
  • API call failed

Solutions:

  1. Check confirmation message (should receive "Check-in complete")
  2. Verify in check-in history
  3. If not showing, complete check-in again
  4. Contact support if issue persists

Want to Skip Check-ins Temporarily​

Solution: Pause policy

  1. Navigate to policy
  2. Click "Pause Policy"
  3. Policy stops monitoring
  4. Resume when ready

Use Cases:

  • Vacation
  • Medical procedure
  • Extended travel

Check-in Security​

Check-in Authentication​

Web/Email Check-in:

  • Secure one-time-use link
  • Link expires after check-in
  • Link tied to your session

Mobile App Check-in:

  • Biometric authentication required
  • Prevents unauthorized check-ins from stolen device

API Check-in:

  • API key authentication
  • Rate limiting to prevent abuse

Suspicious Check-in Detection​

Monitoring:

  • Check-ins from unusual locations flagged
  • Check-ins from new devices require additional verification
  • Multiple failed check-in attempts trigger security alert

If Suspicious Activity Detected:

  1. You receive security alert
  2. Recent check-ins may be invalidated
  3. Additional verification required

Next Steps​

After completing your first check-in:

  1. Vault Settings: Customize check-in notifications
  2. Best Practices: Optimize your check-in routine
  • FAQ: Common check-in questions

Need Help?​

Last Updated: October 7, 2025