refactor: standardize epoch time retrieval with get_epoch_seconds and ensure locale-independent string transformations.

lib/core/app_protection.sh

@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ is_critical_system_component() {
     [[ -z "$token" ]] && return 1
 
     local lower
-    lower=$(echo "$token" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
+    lower=$(echo "$token" | LC_ALL=C tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 
     case "$lower" in
         *backgroundtaskmanagement* | *loginitems* | *systempreferences* | *systemsettings* | *settings* | *preferences* | *controlcenter* | *biometrickit* | *sfl* | *tcc*)
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ should_protect_path() {
     [[ -z "$path" ]] && return 1
 
     local path_lower
-    path_lower=$(echo "$path" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
+    path_lower=$(echo "$path" | LC_ALL=C tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 
     # 1. Keyword-based matching for system components
     # Protect System Settings, Preferences, Control Center, and related XPC services

lib/core/base.sh

@@ -108,8 +108,30 @@ get_file_mtime() {
         return
     }
     local result
-    result=$($STAT_BSD -f%m "$file" 2> /dev/null)
-    echo "${result:-0}"
+    result=$($STAT_BSD -f%m "$file" 2> /dev/null || echo "")
+    if [[ "$result" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+        echo "$result"
+    else
+        echo "0"
+    fi
+}
+
+# Determine date command once
+if [[ -x /bin/date ]]; then
+    _DATE_CMD="/bin/date"
+else
+    _DATE_CMD="date"
+fi
+
+# Get current time in epoch seconds (defensive against locale/aliases)
+get_epoch_seconds() {
+    local result
+    result=$($_DATE_CMD +%s 2> /dev/null || echo "")
+    if [[ "$result" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+        echo "$result"
+    else
+        echo "0"
+    fi
 }
 
 # Get file owner username
@@ -635,11 +657,13 @@ update_progress_if_needed() {
     local interval="${4:-2}"   # Default: update every 2 seconds
 
     # Get current time
-    local current_time=$(date +%s)
+    local current_time
+    current_time=$(get_epoch_seconds)
 
     # Get last update time from variable
     local last_time
     eval "last_time=\${$last_update_var:-0}"
+    [[ "$last_time" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] || last_time=0
 
     # Check if enough time has elapsed
     if [[ $((current_time - last_time)) -ge $interval ]]; then