diff --git a/src/components/Navbar/Navbar.css b/src/components/Navbar/Navbar.css
index 7af342d..b709590 100644
--- a/src/components/Navbar/Navbar.css
+++ b/src/components/Navbar/Navbar.css
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@
   color: #3B9AF8; /* Change color on hover */
 }
 
+/* Add rule for dark mode nav links */
+.dark-mode .navbar-links ul li a {
+  color: #3b9af8;
+}
+
 /* Right Section: Actions */
 .navbar-actions {
   display: flex;
@@ -329,9 +334,15 @@
   box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
 }
 
+/* Add rule for base color of dropdown links in dark mode */
+.dark-mode .dropdown-menu li a {
+  color: #e0e0e0; /* Light grey for readability */
+}
+
 .dark-mode .dropdown-menu li a:hover {
   background-color: rgba(59, 154, 248, 0.2);
-  color: #66b2ff;
+  /* Update hover color to match main links */
+  color: #3b9af8;
 }
 
 /* ---------------------------------- */
diff --git a/src/components/ProtectedRoute.js b/src/components/ProtectedRoute.js
index 0359909..b7e4494 100644
--- a/src/components/ProtectedRoute.js
+++ b/src/components/ProtectedRoute.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { Navigate, useLocation } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { useAuth } from '../contexts/AuthContext';
 import { isAccountAllowed } from '../config/allowlist';
@@ -6,68 +6,18 @@ import Loading from './Loading/Loading';
 
 // Component to protect routes that require authentication
 const ProtectedRoute = ({ children }) => {
-  const { isAuthenticated, loading, session, checkAuthStatus } = useAuth();
+  const { isAuthenticated, loading, session } = useAuth();
   const location = useLocation();
-  const [redirecting, setRedirecting] = useState(false);
-  const [checkingStatus, setCheckingStatus] = useState(false);
-  const checkCount = useRef(0);
-  const maxChecks = 3; // Maximum number of checks to prevent infinite loops
-  
-  // Perform an immediate auth check when the component mounts
-  useEffect(() => {
-    const checkAuth = async () => {
-      if (checkCount.current >= maxChecks) {
-        console.error("Maximum auth check attempts reached. Stopping to prevent infinite loop.");
-        return;
-      }
-      
-      // Only proceed if not already checking, not already redirecting, and not loading
-      if (!isAuthenticated && !checkingStatus && !redirecting && !loading) {
-        try {
-          console.log("ProtectedRoute: Checking authentication status");
-          setCheckingStatus(true);
-          checkCount.current += 1;
-          await checkAuthStatus();
-        } catch (error) {
-          console.error("ProtectedRoute: Auth check failed:", error);
-        } finally {
-          setCheckingStatus(false);
-        }
-      }
-    };
-    
-    // Call immediately on mount or when dependency values change
-    checkAuth();
-    
-    // Set up interval for periodic checks only if authenticated
-    let interval;
-    if (isAuthenticated && session) {
-      console.log("ProtectedRoute: Setting up periodic auth checks");
-      interval = setInterval(() => {
-        checkAuthStatus().catch(err => {
-          console.error("Error in periodic auth check:", err);
-        });
-      }, 30000); // Check every 30 seconds
-    }
-    
-    return () => {
-      if (interval) {
-        console.log("ProtectedRoute: Clearing periodic auth checks");
-        clearInterval(interval);
-      }
-    };
-  }, [isAuthenticated, checkAuthStatus, redirecting, loading, checkingStatus, session]);
 
-  // Show loading state while authentication is being checked
-  if (loading || checkingStatus) {
+  // Show loading state while authentication context is initializing
+  if (loading) {
     return <Loading message="Checking authentication..." />;
   }
 
-  // If not authenticated, redirect to login with return URL
-  if (!isAuthenticated && !redirecting) {
+  // If not authenticated after loading, redirect to login
+  if (!isAuthenticated) {
     console.log("ProtectedRoute: Not authenticated, redirecting to login");
-    setRedirecting(true); // Prevent multiple redirects
-    const returnUrl = encodeURIComponent(location.pathname);
+    const returnUrl = encodeURIComponent(location.pathname + location.search); // Include search params
     return <Navigate to={`/login?returnUrl=${returnUrl}`} replace />;
   }
 
@@ -77,9 +27,6 @@ const ProtectedRoute = ({ children }) => {
     return <Navigate to="/supporter" replace />;
   }
 
-  // Reset counter when rendering the protected content
-  checkCount.current = 0;
-  
   // Render children if authenticated and allowed
   console.log("ProtectedRoute: Authentication successful, rendering protected content");
   return children;
diff --git a/src/components/Verifier/Verifier.js b/src/components/Verifier/Verifier.js
index db0071e..74a99b4 100644
--- a/src/components/Verifier/Verifier.js
+++ b/src/components/Verifier/Verifier.js
@@ -569,26 +569,6 @@ function Verifier() {
   if (isAuthLoading) return <p>Loading authentication...</p>;
   if (authError) return <p>Authentication Error: {authError}. <a href="/login">Please login</a>.</p>;
   
-  // Direct redirect for unauthenticated users as a backup
-  if (!isAuthenticated) {
-    console.log('Verifier: Detected unauthenticated user, forcing redirect');
-    
-    // Force redirect as an additional failsafe
-    setTimeout(() => {
-      const redirectUrl = `/login?returnUrl=${encodeURIComponent(window.location.pathname)}`;
-      window.location.replace(redirectUrl);
-    }, 100);
-    
-    return <p>Authentication required. Redirecting to login...</p>;
-  }
-
-  // Verify we have a valid session
-  if (!session || !session.did) {
-    console.log('Verifier: Session invalid, forcing redirect');
-    window.location.replace('/login');
-    return <p>Session invalid. Redirecting to login...</p>;
-  }
-
   const isAnyOperationInProgress = isVerifying || isRevoking || isLoadingVerifications || isLoadingNetwork || isCheckingValidity;
 
   return (
diff --git a/src/contexts/AuthContext.js b/src/contexts/AuthContext.js
index 4513b9f..2bec708 100644
--- a/src/contexts/AuthContext.js
+++ b/src/contexts/AuthContext.js
@@ -143,10 +143,13 @@ export const AuthProvider = ({ children }) => {
     
     // Force a page refresh if session state changes and we're on a protected path
     // This ensures the latest auth state is always used for route protection
+    // REMOVED: This can cause unwanted flashing/reloads
+    /*
     if (!loading && window.location.pathname === '/verifier' && !session) {
       console.log('(AuthProvider) No session on protected page, forcing refresh');
       window.location.reload();
     }
+    */
   }, [session, loading, error]);
 
   return (