diff --git a/relay/application.py b/relay/application.py
index 076a113..be9b136 100644
--- a/relay/application.py
+++ b/relay/application.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import asyncio
-import logging
 import os
 import queue
 import signal
@@ -9,6 +8,7 @@ import traceback
 from aiohttp import web
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
+from . import logger as logging
 from .config import RelayConfig
 from .database import RelayDatabase
 from .http_client import HttpClient
@@ -103,12 +103,18 @@ class Application(web.Application):
 
 	def run(self):
 		if not check_open_port(self.config.listen, self.config.port):
-			return logging.error(f'A server is already running on port {self.config.port}')
+			return logging.error('A server is already running on port %i', self.config.port)
 
 		for view in VIEWS:
 			self.router.add_view(*view)
 
-		logging.info(f'Starting webserver at {self.config.host} ({self.config.listen}:{self.config.port})')
+		logging.info(
+			'Starting webserver at %s (%s:%i)',
+			self.config.host,
+			self.config.listen,
+			self.config.port
+		)
+
 		asyncio.run(self.handle_run())
 
 
@@ -174,7 +180,7 @@ class PushWorker(threading.Thread):
 			try:
 				inbox, message = self.queue.get(block=True, timeout=0.25)
 				self.queue.task_done()
-				logging.verbose(f'New push from Thread-{threading.get_ident()}')
+				logging.verbose('New push from Thread-%i', threading.get_ident())
 				await self.client.post(inbox, message)
 
 			except queue.Empty:
diff --git a/relay/database.py b/relay/database.py
index ad093cd..b2c8423 100644
--- a/relay/database.py
+++ b/relay/database.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import aputils
 import asyncio
 import json
-import logging
 import traceback
 
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
+from . import logger as logging
+
 
 class RelayDatabase(dict):
 	def __init__(self, config):
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ class RelayDatabase(dict):
 				raise e from None
 
 		if not self['private-key']:
-			logging.info("No actor keys present, generating 4096-bit RSA keypair.")
+			logging.info('No actor keys present, generating 4096-bit RSA keypair.')
 			self.signer = aputils.Signer.new(self.config.keyid, size=4096)
 			self['private-key'] = self.signer.export()
 
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ class RelayDatabase(dict):
 			'software': software
 		}
 
-		logging.verbose(f'Added inbox to database: {inbox}')
+		logging.verbose('Added inbox to database: %s', inbox)
 		return self['relay-list'][domain]
 
 
@@ -140,13 +141,13 @@ class RelayDatabase(dict):
 
 		if not data['followid'] or not followid or data['followid'] == followid:
 			del self['relay-list'][data['domain']]
-			logging.verbose(f'Removed inbox from database: {data["inbox"]}')
+			logging.verbose('Removed inbox from database: %s', data['inbox'])
 			return True
 
 		if fail:
 			raise ValueError('Follow IDs do not match')
 
-		logging.debug(f'Follow ID does not match: db = {data["followid"]}, object = {followid}')
+		logging.debug('Follow ID does not match: db = %s, object = %s', data['followid'], followid)
 		return False
 
 
diff --git a/relay/http_client.py b/relay/http_client.py
index c58974c..732c9e4 100644
--- a/relay/http_client.py
+++ b/relay/http_client.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import logging
 import traceback
 
 from aiohttp import ClientSession, ClientTimeout, TCPConnector
@@ -11,6 +10,7 @@ from json.decoder import JSONDecodeError
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 from . import __version__
+from . import logger as logging
 from .misc import (
 	MIMETYPES,
 	DotDict,
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class HttpClient:
 			headers.update(self.database.signer.sign_headers('GET', url, algorithm='original'))
 
 		try:
-			logging.verbose(f'Fetching resource: {url}')
+			logging.debug('Fetching resource: %s', url)
 
 			async with self._session.get(url, headers=headers) as resp:
 				## Not expecting a response with 202s, so just return
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ class HttpClient:
 					return
 
 				elif resp.status != 200:
-					logging.verbose(f'Received error when requesting {url}: {resp.status}')
-					logging.verbose(await resp.read()) # change this to debug
+					logging.verbose('Received error when requesting %s: %i', url, resp.status)
+					logging.debug(await resp.read())
 					return
 
 				if loads:
@@ -123,22 +123,22 @@ class HttpClient:
 
 				else:
 					# todo: raise TypeError or something
-					logging.verbose(f'Invalid Content-Type for "{url}": {resp.content_type}')
-					return logging.debug(f'Response: {resp.read()}')
+					logging.verbose('Invalid Content-Type for "%s": %s', url, resp.content_type)
+					return logging.debug('Response: %s', await resp.read())
 
-				logging.debug(f'{url} >> resp {message.to_json(4)}')
+				logging.debug('%s >> resp %s', url, message.to_json(4))
 
 				self.cache[url] = message
 				return message
 
 		except JSONDecodeError:
-			logging.verbose(f'Failed to parse JSON')
+			logging.verbose('Failed to parse JSON')
 
 		except ClientSSLError:
-			logging.verbose(f'SSL error when connecting to {urlparse(url).netloc}')
+			logging.verbose('SSL error when connecting to %s', urlparse(url).netloc)
 
 		except (AsyncTimeoutError, ClientConnectionError):
-			logging.verbose(f'Failed to connect to {urlparse(url).netloc}')
+			logging.verbose('Failed to connect to %s', urlparse(url).netloc)
 
 		except Exception as e:
 			traceback.print_exc()
@@ -160,21 +160,21 @@ class HttpClient:
 		headers.update(self.database.signer.sign_headers('POST', url, message, algorithm=algorithm))
 
 		try:
-			logging.verbose(f'Sending "{message.type}" to {url}')
+			logging.verbose('Sending "%s" to %s', message.type, url)
 
 			async with self._session.post(url, headers=headers, data=message.to_json()) as resp:
 				## Not expecting a response, so just return
 				if resp.status in {200, 202}:
-					return logging.verbose(f'Successfully sent "{message.type}" to {url}')
+					return logging.verbose('Successfully sent "%s" to %s', message.type, url)
 
-				logging.verbose(f'Received error when pushing to {url}: {resp.status}')
+				logging.verbose('Received error when pushing to %s: %i', url, resp.status)
 				return logging.verbose(await resp.read()) # change this to debug
 
 		except ClientSSLError:
-			logging.warning(f'SSL error when pushing to {urlparse(url).netloc}')
+			logging.warning('SSL error when pushing to %s', urlparse(url).netloc)
 
 		except (AsyncTimeoutError, ClientConnectionError):
-			logging.warning(f'Failed to connect to {urlparse(url).netloc} for message push')
+			logging.warning('Failed to connect to %s for message push', urlparse(url).netloc)
 
 		## prevent workers from being brought down
 		except Exception as e:
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class HttpClient:
 		)
 
 		if not wk_nodeinfo:
-			logging.verbose(f'Failed to fetch well-known nodeinfo url for domain: {domain}')
+			logging.verbose('Failed to fetch well-known nodeinfo url for %s', domain)
 			return False
 
 		for version in ['20', '21']:
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class HttpClient:
 				pass
 
 		if not nodeinfo_url:
-			logging.verbose(f'Failed to fetch nodeinfo url for domain: {domain}')
+			logging.verbose('Failed to fetch nodeinfo url for %s', domain)
 			return False
 
 		return await self.get(nodeinfo_url, loads=Nodeinfo.parse) or False
diff --git a/relay/manage.py b/relay/manage.py
index c36f876..5f36a79 100644
--- a/relay/manage.py
+++ b/relay/manage.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import Crypto
 import asyncio
 import click
-import logging
 import platform
 
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
diff --git a/relay/misc.py b/relay/misc.py
index 2e28cea..c31514d 100644
--- a/relay/misc.py
+++ b/relay/misc.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
-import logging
 import socket
 import traceback
 import typing
@@ -19,6 +18,8 @@ from json.decoder import JSONDecodeError
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 from uuid import uuid4
 
+from . import logger as logging
+
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
 	from typing import Coroutine, Generator
 
@@ -348,6 +349,7 @@ class View(AbstractView):
 		return self.app.database
 
 
+	# todo: move to views.ActorView
 	async def get_post_data(self) -> Response | None:
 		try:
 			self.signature = Signature.new_from_signature(self.request.headers['signature'])
@@ -394,23 +396,22 @@ class View(AbstractView):
 			self.validate_signature(await self.request.read())
 
 		except SignatureFailureError as e:
-			logging.verbose(f'signature validation failed for "{self.actor.id}": {e}')
+			logging.verbose('signature validation failed for "%s": %s', self.actor.id, e)
 			return Response.new_error(401, str(e), 'json')
 
 		self.instance = self.database.get_inbox(self.actor.inbox)
 
 
-	# aputils.Signer.validate_signature is broken atm, so reimplement it
 	def validate_signature(self, body: bytes) -> None:
 		headers = {key.lower(): value for key, value in self.request.headers.items()}
 		headers["(request-target)"] = " ".join([self.request.method.lower(), self.request.path])
 
-		# if (digest := Digest.new_from_digest(headers.get("digest"))):
-		# 	if not body:
-		# 		raise SignatureFailureError("Missing body for digest verification")
-  # 
-		# 	if not digest.validate(body):
-		# 		raise SignatureFailureError("Body digest does not match")
+		if (digest := Digest.new_from_digest(headers.get("digest"))):
+			if not body:
+				raise SignatureFailureError("Missing body for digest verification")
+  
+			if not digest.validate(body):
+				raise SignatureFailureError("Body digest does not match")
 
 		if self.signature.algorithm_type == "hs2019":
 			if "(created)" not in self.signature.headers:
diff --git a/relay/processors.py b/relay/processors.py
index cbe8c1c..d315fc0 100644
--- a/relay/processors.py
+++ b/relay/processors.py
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import asyncio
-import logging
 import typing
 
 from cachetools import LRUCache
 from uuid import uuid4
 
+from . import logger as logging
 from .misc import Message
 
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def person_check(actor, software):
 
 async def handle_relay(view: View) -> None:
 	if view.message.objectid in cache:
-		logging.verbose(f'already relayed {view.message.objectid}')
+		logging.verbose('already relayed %s', view.message.objectid)
 		return
 
 	message = Message.new_announce(
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ async def handle_relay(view: View) -> None:
 	)
 
 	cache[view.message.objectid] = message.id
-	logging.debug(f'>> relay: {message}')
+	logging.debug('>> relay: %s', message)
 
 	inboxes = view.database.distill_inboxes(message)
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ async def handle_relay(view: View) -> None:
 
 async def handle_forward(view: View) -> None:
 	if view.message.id in cache:
-		logging.verbose(f'already forwarded {view.message.id}')
+		logging.verbose('already forwarded %s', view.message.id)
 		return
 
 	message = Message.new_announce(
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ async def handle_forward(view: View) -> None:
 	)
 
 	cache[view.message.id] = message.id
-	logging.debug(f'>> forward: {message}')
+	logging.debug('>> forward: %s', message)
 
 	inboxes = view.database.distill_inboxes(message.message)
 
@@ -80,7 +80,11 @@ async def handle_follow(view: View) -> None:
 			)
 		)
 
-		return logging.verbose(f'Rejected follow from actor for using specific software: actor={view.actor.id}, software={software}')
+		return logging.verbose(
+			'Rejected follow from actor for using specific software: actor=%s, software=%s',
+			view.actor.id,
+			software
+		)
 
 	## reject if the actor is not an instance actor
 	if person_check(view.actor, software):
@@ -94,7 +98,7 @@ async def handle_follow(view: View) -> None:
 			)
 		)
 
-		logging.verbose(f'Non-application actor tried to follow: {view.actor.id}')
+		logging.verbose('Non-application actor tried to follow: %s', view.actor.id)
 		return
 
 	view.database.add_inbox(view.actor.shared_inbox, view.message.id, software)
@@ -161,7 +165,9 @@ processors = {
 async def run_processor(view: View):
 	if view.message.type not in processors:
 		logging.verbose(
-				f'Message type "{view.message.type}" from actor cannot be handled: {view.actor.id}'
+			'Message type "%s" from actor cannot be handled: %s',
+			view.message.type,
+			view.actor.id
 		)
 
 		return
@@ -173,5 +179,5 @@ async def run_processor(view: View):
 			view.instance['software'] = nodeinfo.sw_name
 			view.database.save()
 
-	logging.verbose(f'New "{view.message.type}" from actor: {view.actor.id}')
+	logging.verbose('New "%s" from actor: %s', view.message.type, view.actor.id)
 	return await processors[view.message.type](view)
diff --git a/relay/views.py b/relay/views.py
index 7968208..e04688e 100644
--- a/relay/views.py
+++ b/relay/views.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import aputils
 import asyncio
-import logging
 import subprocess
 import traceback
 import typing
@@ -11,6 +10,7 @@ from aputils.objects import Nodeinfo, Webfinger, WellKnownNodeinfo
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from . import __version__, misc
+from . import logger as logging
 from .misc import Message, Response, View
 from .processors import run_processor
 
@@ -93,20 +93,24 @@ class ActorView(View):
 
 		## reject if the actor isn't whitelisted while the whiltelist is enabled
 		if self.config.whitelist_enabled and not self.config.is_whitelisted(self.actor.domain):
-			logging.verbose(f'Rejected actor for not being in the whitelist: {self.actor.id}')
+			logging.verbose('Rejected actor for not being in the whitelist: %s', self.actor.id)
 			return Response.new_error(403, 'access denied', 'json')
 
 		## reject if actor is banned
 		if self.config.is_banned(self.actor.domain):
-			logging.verbose(f'Ignored request from banned actor: {self.actor.id}')
+			logging.verbose('Ignored request from banned actor: %s', self.actor.id)
 			return Response.new_error(403, 'access denied', 'json')
 
 		## reject if activity type isn't 'Follow' and the actor isn't following
 		if self.message.type != 'Follow' and not self.database.get_inbox(self.actor.domain):
-			logging.verbose(f'Rejected actor for trying to post while not following: {self.actor.id}')
+			logging.verbose(
+				'Rejected actor for trying to post while not following: %s',
+				self.actor.id
+			)
+
 			return Response.new_error(401, 'access denied', 'json')
 
-		logging.debug(f">> payload {self.message.to_json(4)}")
+		logging.debug('>> payload %s', self.message.to_json(4))
 
 		asyncio.ensure_future(run_processor(self))
 		return Response.new(status = 202)