diff --git a/agent-node/VERSION b/agent-node/VERSION
index ea2f1d3..e9acec7 100644
--- a/agent-node/VERSION
+++ b/agent-node/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.0.74
+1.0.75
diff --git a/agent-node/src/agent_node/core/watcher.py b/agent-node/src/agent_node/core/watcher.py
index 56199a2..69dd04a 100644
--- a/agent-node/src/agent_node/core/watcher.py
+++ b/agent-node/src/agent_node/core/watcher.py
@@ -29,17 +29,23 @@
 
     def on_modified(self, event):
         if not event.is_directory:
+            if event.src_path.endswith(".cortex_tmp") or event.src_path.endswith(".cortex_lock"):
+                return
             print(f"    [📁👁️] Watcher: Modification detected: {event.src_path}")
             self._process_change(event.src_path)
 
     def on_created(self, event):
         if not event.is_directory:
+            if event.src_path.endswith(".cortex_tmp") or event.src_path.endswith(".cortex_lock"):
+                return
             print(f"    [📁👁️] Watcher: Creation detected: {event.src_path}")
             self._process_change(event.src_path)
 
     def on_closed(self, event):
         # critical for large writes like 'dd' or 'cp' that trigger many modified events
         if not event.is_directory:
+            if event.src_path.endswith(".cortex_tmp") or event.src_path.endswith(".cortex_lock"):
+                return
             print(f"    [📁👁️] Watcher: File closed (triggering immediate sync): {event.src_path}")
             self._process_change(event.src_path, force=True)
 
@@ -148,12 +154,29 @@
             if not os.path.exists(abs_path):
                 return
 
+            # Step 1: Calculate hash first to prevent infinite echo loops
+            file_hash = ""
+            try:
+                h = hashlib.sha256()
+                with open(abs_path, "rb") as f:
+                    while True:
+                        block = f.read(1024 * 1024)
+                        if not block: break
+                        h.update(block)
+                file_hash = h.hexdigest()
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(f"    [!] Watcher hashing error for {rel_path}: {e}")
+                return
+
+            if self.last_sync.get(rel_path) == file_hash:
+                return # Already in sync
+
+            self.last_sync[rel_path] = file_hash
             file_size = os.path.getsize(abs_path)
             chunk_size = 1024 * 1024 # 1MB buffer for hashing/stream
             total_chunks = (file_size + chunk_size - 1) // chunk_size if file_size > 0 else 1
             
-            # Memory-safe incremental hashing
-            hasher = hashlib.sha256()
+            print(f"    [📁📤] Streaming Sync Started: {rel_path} ({file_size} bytes)")
             
             with open(abs_path, "rb") as f:
                 index = 0
@@ -162,7 +185,6 @@
                     if not chunk and index > 0:
                         break
                     
-                    hasher.update(chunk)
                     offset = f.tell() - len(chunk)
                     is_final = f.tell() >= file_size
                     
@@ -176,7 +198,7 @@
                         "is_final": is_final, 
                         "offset": offset,
                         "compressed": True,
-                        "hash": hasher.hexdigest() if is_final else "",
+                        "hash": file_hash if is_final else "",
                     }
                     if "total_chunks" in agent_pb2.FilePayload.DESCRIPTOR.fields_by_name:
                         payload_fields["total_chunks"] = total_chunks
@@ -190,15 +212,7 @@
                     if is_final: break
                     index += 1
 
-                file_hash = hasher.hexdigest()
-
-                if self.last_sync.get(rel_path) == file_hash:
-                    # Chunks were already sent, so we must send sentinel above, 
-                    # but we can skip the log message.
-                    return 
-                
-                self.last_sync[rel_path] = file_hash
-                print(f"    [📁📤] Streaming Sync Complete: {rel_path} ({file_size} bytes)")
+                print(f"    [📁📤] Streaming Sync Complete: {rel_path}")
 
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"    [!] Watcher Error for {rel_path}: {e}")