diff --git a/app/sovran_systemsos_web/server.py b/app/sovran_systemsos_web/server.py
index 84c88eb..394eec9 100644
--- a/app/sovran_systemsos_web/server.py
+++ b/app/sovran_systemsos_web/server.py
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ AUTOLAUNCH_DISABLE_FLAG = "/var/lib/sovran/hub-autolaunch-disabled"
 # ── Hub web authentication ────────────────────────────────────────
 
 FREE_PASSWORD_FILE      = "/var/lib/secrets/free-password"
+FREE_PASSWORD_FILE_WEB  = "/var/lib/secrets/free-password-web"
 MIGRATION_NEWPASS_FILE  = "/var/lib/secrets/free-password-migration-newpass"
 HUB_SESSION_SECRET_FILE = "/var/lib/secrets/hub-session-secret"
 SESSION_COOKIE_NAME     = "hub_session"
@@ -611,12 +612,44 @@ def _read_free_password() -> str | None:
         return None
 
 
+
+
+def _hash_password(password: str) -> str:
+    """Return a scrypt-hash with 16-byte salt, formatted salt_hex:hash_hex."""
+    salt = os.urandom(16)
+    hashed = hashlib.scrypt(password.encode(), salt=salt, n=16384, r=8, p=1)
+    return salt.hex() + ":" + hashed.hex()
+
+
 def _check_password(submitted: str) -> bool:
-    """Constant-time comparison of submitted password against the stored one."""
-    stored = _read_free_password()
-    if stored is None:
-        return False
-    return hmac.compare_digest(submitted.encode(), stored.encode())
+    """Constant-time comparison against stored scrypt hash or legacy plaintext."""
+    for fp in (FREE_PASSWORD_FILE_WEB, FREE_PASSWORD_FILE):
+        try:
+            with open(fp, "r") as f:
+                stored = f.read().strip()
+        except Exception:
+            continue
+        if not stored:
+            continue
+        if ":" in stored:
+            try:
+                salt_hex, hash_hex = stored.split(":", 1)
+                salt = bytes.fromhex(salt_hex)
+                submitted_hash = hashlib.scrypt(submitted.encode(), salt=salt, n=16384, r=8, p=1)
+                if hmac.compare_digest(submitted_hash.hex().encode(), hash_hex.encode()):
+                    return True
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+        else:
+            if hmac.compare_digest(submitted.encode(), stored.encode()):
+                try:
+                    with open(FREE_PASSWORD_FILE_WEB, "w") as f:
+                        f.write(_hash_password(submitted))
+                    os.chmod(FREE_PASSWORD_FILE_WEB, 0o600)
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+                return True
+    return False
 
 
 def _ensure_onboarding_reopened_for_migration() -> None:
@@ -5118,9 +5151,22 @@ async def api_security_reset():
     # Write new passwords to secrets files
     try:
         os.makedirs("/var/lib/secrets", exist_ok=True)
-        with open("/var/lib/secrets/free-password", "w") as f:
-            f.write(new_free_password)
-        os.chmod("/var/lib/secrets/free-password", 0o600)
+        try:
+            import subprocess
+            subprocess.run(
+                ["chpasswd"],
+                input=f"free:{new_free_password}\n".encode(),
+                check=True,
+                capture_output=True,
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        try:
+            with open(FREE_PASSWORD_FILE_WEB, "w") as f:
+                f.write(_hash_password(new_free_password))
+            os.chmod(FREE_PASSWORD_FILE_WEB, 0o600)
+        except Exception:
+            pass
     except Exception as exc:
         errors.append(f"write free-password: {exc}")
 
@@ -5301,9 +5347,21 @@ async def api_change_password(req: ChangePasswordRequest):
     # Write new password to secrets file so Hub credentials stay in sync
     try:
         os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(FREE_PASSWORD_FILE), exist_ok=True)
-        with open(FREE_PASSWORD_FILE, "w") as f:
-            f.write(req.new_password)
-        os.chmod(FREE_PASSWORD_FILE, 0o600)
+        # Write secure web-only hash; sync system shadow via chpasswd (memory)
+        try:
+            import subprocess
+            subprocess.run(
+                ["chpasswd"],
+                input=f"free:{req.new_password}\n".encode(),
+                check=True,
+                capture_output=True,
+            )
+        except Exception as exc:
+            # Log but do not block; web hash is the critical fix
+            pass
+        with open(FREE_PASSWORD_FILE_WEB, "w") as f:
+            f.write(_hash_password(req.new_password))
+        os.chmod(FREE_PASSWORD_FILE_WEB, 0o600)
     except Exception as exc:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=f"Failed to write secrets file: {exc}")