diff --git a/.jules/sentinel.md b/.jules/sentinel.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed9335d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.jules/sentinel.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Sentinel's Journal
+
+## 2025-02-13 - Secure File Creation in Shell Scripts
+**Vulnerability:** SSH private keys were created with default umask (often 022, resulting in 644/world-readable) before being restricted with `chmod 600`. This created a race condition where the key was briefly readable by other users.
+**Learning:** Shell redirection (`>`) and `mkdir` adhere to the process's `umask` at the time of execution. `chmod` after creation leaves a window of vulnerability.
+**Prevention:** Use `(umask 077 && mkdir ...)` for directories and `(umask 077; command > file)` for files to ensure atomic secure permissions. Remove existing files before writing if sensitive to ensure new inode creation with correct permissions.
diff --git a/tools/setup-ssh-keys.sh b/tools/setup-ssh-keys.sh
index bde52fd..b89f5b6 100755
--- a/tools/setup-ssh-keys.sh
+++ b/tools/setup-ssh-keys.sh
@@ -148,12 +148,21 @@ cmd_restore() {
 
     say "Restoring SSH key from 1Password..."
 
-    # Create SSH directory
-    mkdir -p "$SSH_DIR"
+    # Create SSH directory with secure permissions
+    if [[ ! -d "$SSH_DIR" ]]; then
+        (umask 077 && mkdir -p "$SSH_DIR")
+    fi
     chmod 700 "$SSH_DIR"
 
-    # Read private key from 1Password and save locally
-    op read "op://$VAULT/$KEY_NAME/private_key" > "$PRIVATE_KEY_FILE"
+    # Remove existing files to ensure new files are created with correct permissions
+    rm -f "$PRIVATE_KEY_FILE" "$PUBLIC_KEY_FILE"
+
+    # Read private key from 1Password and save locally with secure permissions
+    # usage of subshell with umask 077 ensures file is created with 600 permissions
+    (
+        umask 077
+        op read "op://$VAULT/$KEY_NAME/private_key" > "$PRIVATE_KEY_FILE"
+    )
     chmod 600 "$PRIVATE_KEY_FILE"
 
     # Read public key from 1Password and save locally