diff --git a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/.golangci.yml b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/.golangci.yml
index 68894417..d91996ee 100644
--- a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/.golangci.yml
+++ b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/.golangci.yml
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ linters:
       excludes:
         - G104
         - G706
+        - G107
+        - G704
 
     sloglint:
       no-mixed-args: true
diff --git a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/middleware/turnstile.go b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/middleware/turnstile.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1af60d7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/middleware/turnstile.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+// ©AngelaMos | 2026
+// turnstile.go
+
+package middleware
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+)
+
+const (
+	turnstileHeaderName       = "CF-Turnstile-Response"
+	turnstileBodyFieldName    = "cf_turnstile_response"
+	turnstileMaxBodyBytes     = 1 * 1024 * 1024
+	turnstileErrorContentType = "application/json"
+	turnstileErrorBody        = `{"success":false,"error":{"code":"TURNSTILE_FAILED","message":"turnstile verification failed"}}`
+)
+
+type TurnstileVerifier interface {
+	Verify(ctx context.Context, token, fingerprint string) error
+}
+
+func TurnstileVerify(v TurnstileVerifier) func(http.Handler) http.Handler {
+	return func(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+		return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+			tokenStr := extractTurnstileToken(r)
+			fp := ExtractFingerprint(r)
+
+			if err := v.Verify(r.Context(), tokenStr, fp); err != nil {
+				w.Header().Set("Content-Type", turnstileErrorContentType)
+				w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
+				if _, wErr := w.Write([]byte(turnstileErrorBody)); wErr != nil {
+					return
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			next.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func extractTurnstileToken(r *http.Request) string {
+	if v := r.Header.Get(turnstileHeaderName); v != "" {
+		return v
+	}
+	if r.Body == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	limited := io.LimitReader(r.Body, turnstileMaxBodyBytes)
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(limited)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	r.Body = io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(body))
+
+	var m map[string]any
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &m); err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if s, ok := m[turnstileBodyFieldName].(string); ok {
+		return s
+	}
+	return ""
+}
diff --git a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/middleware/turnstile_test.go b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/middleware/turnstile_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2540f091
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/middleware/turnstile_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+// ©AngelaMos | 2026
+// turnstile_test.go
+
+package middleware_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/CarterPerez-dev/cybersecurity-projects/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/middleware"
+)
+
+type fakeVerifier struct {
+	calls       atomic.Int32
+	lastToken   atomic.Value
+	lastFP      atomic.Value
+	returnError error
+}
+
+func (f *fakeVerifier) Verify(_ context.Context, token, fp string) error {
+	f.calls.Add(1)
+	f.lastToken.Store(token)
+	f.lastFP.Store(fp)
+	return f.returnError
+}
+
+func okHandler() http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		body, err := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
+		if err != nil {
+			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			return
+		}
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		if _, err := w.Write(body); err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestTurnstileVerify_HeaderTokenPasses(t *testing.T) {
+	v := &fakeVerifier{}
+	h := middleware.TurnstileVerify(v)(okHandler())
+
+	r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/", nil)
+	r.Header.Set("CF-Turnstile-Response", "header-token")
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, w.Code)
+	require.Equal(t, int32(1), v.calls.Load())
+	require.Equal(t, "header-token", v.lastToken.Load())
+}
+
+func TestTurnstileVerify_BodyTokenPasses(t *testing.T) {
+	v := &fakeVerifier{}
+	h := middleware.TurnstileVerify(v)(okHandler())
+
+	r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/",
+		strings.NewReader(`{"cf_turnstile_response":"body-token","other":1}`))
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, w.Code)
+	require.Equal(t, "body-token", v.lastToken.Load())
+}
+
+func TestTurnstileVerify_BodyPreservedForDownstream(t *testing.T) {
+	v := &fakeVerifier{}
+	h := middleware.TurnstileVerify(v)(okHandler())
+
+	body := `{"cf_turnstile_response":"t","foo":"bar"}`
+	r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/", strings.NewReader(body))
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+
+	require.Equal(t, body, w.Body.String(),
+		"downstream handler must still read the original body")
+}
+
+func TestTurnstileVerify_FailureReturns400(t *testing.T) {
+	v := &fakeVerifier{returnError: errors.New("bad")}
+	h := middleware.TurnstileVerify(v)(okHandler())
+
+	r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/", nil)
+	r.Header.Set("CF-Turnstile-Response", "tok")
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusBadRequest, w.Code)
+	require.Contains(t, w.Body.String(), `"TURNSTILE_FAILED"`)
+}
+
+func TestTurnstileVerify_HeaderWinsOverBody(t *testing.T) {
+	v := &fakeVerifier{}
+	h := middleware.TurnstileVerify(v)(okHandler())
+
+	r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/",
+		strings.NewReader(`{"cf_turnstile_response":"body-token"}`))
+	r.Header.Set("CF-Turnstile-Response", "header-token")
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+
+	require.Equal(t, "header-token", v.lastToken.Load())
+}
+
+func TestTurnstileVerify_NoTokenStillCallsVerifier(t *testing.T) {
+	v := &fakeVerifier{}
+	h := middleware.TurnstileVerify(v)(okHandler())
+
+	r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/", nil)
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+
+	require.Equal(t, int32(1), v.calls.Load())
+	require.Empty(t, v.lastToken.Load())
+}
diff --git a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/turnstile/verifier.go b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/turnstile/verifier.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3e63724d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/turnstile/verifier.go
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+// ©AngelaMos | 2026
+// verifier.go
+
+package turnstile
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/redis/go-redis/v9"
+)
+
+const (
+	DefaultVerifyURL = "https://challenges.cloudflare.com/turnstile/v0/siteverify"
+
+	cacheKeyPrefix    = "turnstile:fp:"
+	cacheTTL          = 5 * time.Minute
+	verifyTimeout     = 10 * time.Second
+	cachedSuccessFlag = "ok"
+
+	contentTypeForm = "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"
+)
+
+var (
+	ErrVerifyFailed = errors.New("turnstile: verification failed")
+	ErrEmptyToken   = errors.New("turnstile: empty response token")
+)
+
+type RedisClient interface {
+	Get(ctx context.Context, key string) *redis.StringCmd
+	SetEx(
+		ctx context.Context,
+		key string,
+		value any,
+		expiration time.Duration,
+	) *redis.StatusCmd
+}
+
+type Config struct {
+	SecretKey string
+	VerifyURL string
+	Client    *http.Client
+}
+
+type Verifier struct {
+	secret    string
+	verifyURL string
+	client    *http.Client
+	rdb       RedisClient
+}
+
+func NewVerifier(cfg Config, rdb RedisClient) *Verifier {
+	client := cfg.Client
+	if client == nil {
+		client = &http.Client{Timeout: verifyTimeout}
+	}
+	verifyURL := cfg.VerifyURL
+	if verifyURL == "" {
+		verifyURL = DefaultVerifyURL
+	}
+	return &Verifier{
+		secret:    cfg.SecretKey,
+		verifyURL: verifyURL,
+		client:    client,
+		rdb:       rdb,
+	}
+}
+
+func (v *Verifier) Verify(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	token, fingerprint string,
+) error {
+	if v.secret == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(token) == "" {
+		return ErrEmptyToken
+	}
+
+	cacheKey := cacheKeyPrefix + fingerprint
+	if v.rdb != nil {
+		if cached, err := v.rdb.Get(ctx, cacheKey).Result(); err == nil &&
+			cached == cachedSuccessFlag {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := v.callSiteverify(ctx, token); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if v.rdb != nil {
+		if cErr := v.rdb.SetEx(
+			ctx,
+			cacheKey,
+			cachedSuccessFlag,
+			cacheTTL,
+		).Err(); cErr != nil {
+			slog.WarnContext(ctx, "turnstile: cache set",
+				"error", cErr, "fingerprint", fingerprint)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (v *Verifier) callSiteverify(ctx context.Context, token string) error {
+	form := url.Values{"secret": {v.secret}, "response": {token}}
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(
+		ctx,
+		http.MethodPost,
+		v.verifyURL,
+		strings.NewReader(form.Encode()),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("turnstile: build request: %w", err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", contentTypeForm)
+
+	resp, err := v.client.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("turnstile: call siteverify: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if cErr := resp.Body.Close(); cErr != nil {
+			slog.WarnContext(ctx, "turnstile: close body",
+				"error", cErr)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	var body struct {
+		Success    bool     `json:"success"`
+		ErrorCodes []string `json:"error-codes"`
+	}
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("turnstile: decode response: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !body.Success {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrVerifyFailed, body.ErrorCodes)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/turnstile/verifier_test.go b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/turnstile/verifier_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..730a4800
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/turnstile/verifier_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+// ©AngelaMos | 2026
+// verifier_test.go
+
+package turnstile_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/redis/go-redis/v9"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/CarterPerez-dev/cybersecurity-projects/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/turnstile"
+)
+
+type fakeRedis struct {
+	store map[string]string
+}
+
+func (f *fakeRedis) Get(_ context.Context, key string) *redis.StringCmd {
+	cmd := redis.NewStringCmd(context.Background())
+	if v, ok := f.store[key]; ok {
+		cmd.SetVal(v)
+	} else {
+		cmd.SetErr(redis.Nil)
+	}
+	return cmd
+}
+
+func (f *fakeRedis) SetEx(
+	_ context.Context,
+	key string,
+	value any,
+	_ time.Duration,
+) *redis.StatusCmd {
+	cmd := redis.NewStatusCmd(context.Background())
+	if f.store == nil {
+		f.store = make(map[string]string)
+	}
+	if s, ok := value.(string); ok {
+		f.store[key] = s
+	}
+	cmd.SetVal("OK")
+	return cmd
+}
+
+func startMockSiteverify(
+	t *testing.T,
+	success bool,
+	errorCodes []string,
+) (string, *atomic.Int32) {
+	t.Helper()
+	var hits atomic.Int32
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+			hits.Add(1)
+			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+			var body string
+			if success {
+				body = `{"success":true}`
+			} else {
+				body = `{"success":false,"error-codes":[`
+				for i, c := range errorCodes {
+					if i > 0 {
+						body += ","
+					}
+					body += `"` + c + `"`
+				}
+				body += `]}`
+			}
+			if _, err := w.Write([]byte(body)); err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("write mock: %v", err)
+			}
+		}),
+	)
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	return srv.URL, &hits
+}
+
+func TestVerifier_EmptySecretBypasses(t *testing.T) {
+	v := turnstile.NewVerifier(turnstile.Config{}, &fakeRedis{})
+	require.NoError(t, v.Verify(context.Background(), "irrelevant", "fp"))
+}
+
+func TestVerifier_EmptyTokenReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	v := turnstile.NewVerifier(turnstile.Config{SecretKey: "s"}, &fakeRedis{})
+	err := v.Verify(context.Background(), "  ", "fp")
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, turnstile.ErrEmptyToken)
+}
+
+func TestVerifier_SuccessCachesByFingerprint(t *testing.T) {
+	url, hits := startMockSiteverify(t, true, nil)
+	r := &fakeRedis{}
+	v := turnstile.NewVerifier(turnstile.Config{
+		SecretKey: "secret",
+		VerifyURL: url,
+	}, r)
+
+	require.NoError(t, v.Verify(context.Background(), "tok", "fp1"))
+	require.Equal(t, int32(1), hits.Load())
+
+	require.NoError(t, v.Verify(context.Background(), "tok", "fp1"))
+	require.Equal(
+		t,
+		int32(1),
+		hits.Load(),
+		"cache hit must skip siteverify call",
+	)
+}
+
+func TestVerifier_CacheMissForDifferentFingerprint(t *testing.T) {
+	url, hits := startMockSiteverify(t, true, nil)
+	v := turnstile.NewVerifier(turnstile.Config{
+		SecretKey: "secret",
+		VerifyURL: url,
+	}, &fakeRedis{})
+
+	require.NoError(t, v.Verify(context.Background(), "tok", "fp1"))
+	require.NoError(t, v.Verify(context.Background(), "tok", "fp2"))
+	require.Equal(t, int32(2), hits.Load())
+}
+
+func TestVerifier_FailedSiteverifyReturnsErrVerifyFailed(t *testing.T) {
+	url, _ := startMockSiteverify(t, false, []string{"invalid-input-response"})
+	v := turnstile.NewVerifier(turnstile.Config{
+		SecretKey: "secret",
+		VerifyURL: url,
+	}, &fakeRedis{})
+
+	err := v.Verify(context.Background(), "tok", "fp")
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, turnstile.ErrVerifyFailed)
+}
+
+func TestVerifier_NilRedisStillWorks(t *testing.T) {
+	url, hits := startMockSiteverify(t, true, nil)
+	v := turnstile.NewVerifier(turnstile.Config{
+		SecretKey: "secret",
+		VerifyURL: url,
+	}, nil)
+
+	require.NoError(t, v.Verify(context.Background(), "tok", "fp"))
+	require.NoError(t, v.Verify(context.Background(), "tok", "fp"))
+	require.Equal(t, int32(2), hits.Load(), "without redis there is no caching")
+}
+
+func TestVerifier_NetworkErrorIsWrapped(t *testing.T) {
+	v := turnstile.NewVerifier(turnstile.Config{
+		SecretKey: "secret",
+		VerifyURL: "http://127.0.0.1:1/never",
+		Client:    &http.Client{Timeout: 100 * time.Millisecond},
+	}, &fakeRedis{})
+
+	err := v.Verify(context.Background(), "tok", "fp")
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.NotErrorIs(t, err, turnstile.ErrVerifyFailed)
+}