diff --git a/cmd/vdb.go b/cmd/vdb.go
index 547df93..71d15dd 100644
--- a/cmd/vdb.go
+++ b/cmd/vdb.go
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@ var (
 	vdbOrgID     string
 	vdbSecretKey string
 	vdbBaseURL   string
-	vdbLimit     int
-	vdbOffset    int
 	vdbOutput    string
 )
 
@@ -87,7 +85,11 @@ Examples:
 			client.BaseURL = vdbBaseURL
 		}
 
-		fmt.Printf("🔍 Fetching information for %s...\n", cveID)
+		if vdbOutput == "json" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "🔍 Fetching information for %s...\n", cveID)
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("🔍 Fetching information for %s...\n", cveID)
+		}
 
 		cveInfo, err := client.GetCVE(cveID)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -159,6 +161,10 @@ Examples:
 	RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		productName := args[0]
 
+		// Get pagination flags
+		limit, _ := cmd.Flags().GetInt("limit")
+		offset, _ := cmd.Flags().GetInt("offset")
+
 		client := vdb.NewClient(vdbOrgID, vdbSecretKey)
 		if vdbBaseURL != "" {
 			client.BaseURL = vdbBaseURL
@@ -167,7 +173,11 @@ Examples:
 		// If version is provided, get specific version info
 		if len(args) > 1 {
 			version := args[1]
-			fmt.Printf("🔍 Fetching information for %s@%s...\n", productName, version)
+			if vdbOutput == "json" {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "🔍 Fetching information for %s@%s...\n", productName, version)
+			} else {
+				fmt.Printf("🔍 Fetching information for %s@%s...\n", productName, version)
+			}
 
 			info, err := client.GetProductVersion(productName, version)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -178,9 +188,13 @@ Examples:
 		}
 
 		// Otherwise, list all versions
-		fmt.Printf("📦 Fetching versions for %s...\n", productName)
+		if vdbOutput == "json" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "📦 Fetching versions for %s...\n", productName)
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("📦 Fetching versions for %s...\n", productName)
+		}
 
-		resp, err := client.GetProductVersions(productName, vdbLimit, vdbOffset)
+		resp, err := client.GetProductVersions(productName, limit, offset)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to get product versions: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -216,14 +230,22 @@ Examples:
 	RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		packageName := args[0]
 
+		// Get pagination flags
+		limit, _ := cmd.Flags().GetInt("limit")
+		offset, _ := cmd.Flags().GetInt("offset")
+
 		client := vdb.NewClient(vdbOrgID, vdbSecretKey)
 		if vdbBaseURL != "" {
 			client.BaseURL = vdbBaseURL
 		}
 
-		fmt.Printf("🔒 Fetching vulnerabilities for %s...\n", packageName)
+		if vdbOutput == "json" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "🔒 Fetching vulnerabilities for %s...\n", packageName)
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("🔒 Fetching vulnerabilities for %s...\n", packageName)
+		}
 
-		resp, err := client.GetPackageVulnerabilities(packageName, vdbLimit, vdbOffset)
+		resp, err := client.GetPackageVulnerabilities(packageName, limit, offset)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to get vulnerabilities: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -272,7 +294,11 @@ Examples:
 			client.BaseURL = vdbBaseURL
 		}
 
-		fmt.Println("📋 Fetching OpenAPI specification...")
+		if vdbOutput == "json" {
+			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "📋 Fetching OpenAPI specification...")
+		} else {
+			fmt.Println("📋 Fetching OpenAPI specification...")
+		}
 
 		spec, err := client.GetOpenAPISpec()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -320,9 +346,9 @@ func init() {
 	vdbCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&vdbOutput, "output", "o", "pretty", "Output format (json, pretty)")
 
 	// Pagination flags for applicable commands
-	productCmd.Flags().IntVar(&vdbLimit, "limit", 100, "Maximum number of results to return")
-	productCmd.Flags().IntVar(&vdbOffset, "offset", 0, "Number of results to skip")
+	productCmd.Flags().Int("limit", 100, "Maximum number of results to return (default 100; use with --offset for pagination)")
+	productCmd.Flags().Int("offset", 0, "Number of results to skip (for pagination)")
 
-	vulnsCmd.Flags().IntVar(&vdbLimit, "limit", 100, "Maximum number of results to return")
-	vulnsCmd.Flags().IntVar(&vdbOffset, "offset", 0, "Number of results to skip")
+	vulnsCmd.Flags().Int("limit", 100, "Maximum number of results to return (default 100; use with --offset for pagination)")
+	vulnsCmd.Flags().Int("offset", 0, "Number of results to skip (for pagination)")
 }
diff --git a/docs/VDB-QUICKSTART.md b/docs/VDB-QUICKSTART.md
index 0a51a53..5805559 100644
--- a/docs/VDB-QUICKSTART.md
+++ b/docs/VDB-QUICKSTART.md
@@ -162,12 +162,28 @@ done < cve-list.txt
 
 **Solution**:
 ```bash
-# Verify environment variables are set
-echo $VVD_ORG
-echo $VVD_SECRET
+# Verify environment variables are set WITHOUT printing secret values
+if [ -n "${VVD_ORG:-}" ]; then
+  echo "VVD_ORG is set"
+else
+  echo "VVD_ORG is NOT set"
+fi
+
+if [ -n "${VVD_SECRET:-}" ]; then
+  echo "VVD_SECRET is set"
+else
+  echo "VVD_SECRET is NOT set"
+fi
+
+# Check that the config file exists (but don't print its contents)
+if [ -f "$HOME/.vulnetix/vdb.json" ]; then
+  echo "VDB config file found at $HOME/.vulnetix/vdb.json"
+else
+  echo "VDB config file not found at $HOME/.vulnetix/vdb.json"
+fi
 
-# Or check config file exists
-cat ~/.vulnetix/vdb.json
+# Security tip: avoid running commands that print secrets (UUIDs, API keys,
+# or full config files) directly to your terminal or CI logs.
 ```
 
 ### "Invalid signature" Error
diff --git a/examples/vdb-ci-example.sh b/examples/vdb-ci-example.sh
index 423d065..64134f2 100644
--- a/examples/vdb-ci-example.sh
+++ b/examples/vdb-ci-example.sh
@@ -46,9 +46,7 @@ echo "📊 Severity threshold: $SEVERITY_THRESHOLD"
 echo ""
 
 # Fetch vulnerabilities
-VULNS_JSON=$(vulnetix vdb vulns "$PACKAGE_NAME" -o json 2>&1)
-
-if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+if ! VULNS_JSON=$(vulnetix vdb vulns "$PACKAGE_NAME" -o json 2>&1); then
     echo -e "${RED}❌ Failed to fetch vulnerabilities${NC}"
     echo "$VULNS_JSON"
     exit 2
diff --git a/examples/vdb-config.json b/examples/vdb-config.json
index 25d0d36..4f8ee7c 100644
--- a/examples/vdb-config.json
+++ b/examples/vdb-config.json
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 {
   "org_id": "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000",
-  "secret_key": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000"
+  "secret_key": "REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_SECRET_KEY"
 }
diff --git a/examples/vdb-github-action.yml b/examples/vdb-github-action.yml
index 88aa235..4906928 100644
--- a/examples/vdb-github-action.yml
+++ b/examples/vdb-github-action.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           # Install from GitHub releases (adjust version as needed)
           curl -LO https://github.com/vulnetix/cli/releases/latest/download/vulnetix-linux-amd64
+          curl -LO https://github.com/vulnetix/cli/releases/latest/download/vulnetix-linux-amd64.sha256
+          # Verify the downloaded binary against its SHA-256 checksum
+          sha256sum -c vulnetix-linux-amd64.sha256
           chmod +x vulnetix-linux-amd64
           sudo mv vulnetix-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/vulnetix
           vulnetix version
@@ -69,10 +72,19 @@ jobs:
           # Fetch vulnerabilities
           vulnetix vdb vulns "${{ matrix.package }}" -o json > vulns.json
 
-          # Parse results
-          TOTAL=$(jq '.total' vulns.json)
-          CRITICAL=$(jq '[.vulnerabilities[] | select(.severity == "CRITICAL")] | length' vulns.json)
-          HIGH=$(jq '[.vulnerabilities[] | select(.severity == "HIGH")] | length' vulns.json)
+          # Parse results with error handling
+          if ! TOTAL=$(jq -r '.total' vulns.json); then
+            echo "Error: Failed to parse total from JSON"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          if ! CRITICAL=$(jq '[.vulnerabilities[] | select(.severity == "CRITICAL")] | length' vulns.json); then
+            echo "Error: Failed to parse critical count from JSON"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          if ! HIGH=$(jq '[.vulnerabilities[] | select(.severity == "HIGH")] | length' vulns.json); then
+            echo "Error: Failed to parse high count from JSON"
+            exit 1
+          fi
 
           echo "total=$TOTAL" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "critical=$CRITICAL" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
@@ -91,7 +103,7 @@ jobs:
           retention-days: 30
 
       - name: Check vulnerability threshold
-        if: steps.scan.outputs.critical > 0 || steps.scan.outputs.high > 0
+        if: steps.scan.outputs.critical != '0' || steps.scan.outputs.high != '0'
         run: |
           echo "❌ Critical or High severity vulnerabilities found!"
           echo "Critical: ${{ steps.scan.outputs.critical }}"
diff --git a/internal/vdb/api.go b/internal/vdb/api.go
index d336f8a..33ed0e1 100644
--- a/internal/vdb/api.go
+++ b/internal/vdb/api.go
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ func (c *Client) GetCVE(cveID string) (*CVEInfo, error) {
 
 	// Store full response in Data field
 	var fullData map[string]interface{}
-	json.Unmarshal(respBody, &fullData)
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(respBody, &fullData); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse full response data: %w", err)
+	}
 	cveInfo.Data = fullData
 
 	return &cveInfo, nil
@@ -83,21 +85,30 @@ func (c *Client) GetEcosystems() ([]string, error) {
 	return resp.Ecosystems, nil
 }
 
+// buildPaginationQuery constructs a query string for pagination parameters.
+// It returns an empty string if neither limit nor offset is greater than zero.
+func buildPaginationQuery(limit, offset int) string {
+	if limit <= 0 && offset <= 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	params := url.Values{}
+	if limit > 0 {
+		params.Add("limit", fmt.Sprintf("%d", limit))
+	}
+	if offset > 0 {
+		params.Add("offset", fmt.Sprintf("%d", offset))
+	}
+
+	return "?" + params.Encode()
+}
+
 // GetProductVersions retrieves all versions for a product with pagination
 func (c *Client) GetProductVersions(productName string, limit, offset int) (*ProductVersionsResponse, error) {
 	path := fmt.Sprintf("/product/%s", url.PathEscape(productName))
 
 	// Add pagination parameters
-	if limit > 0 || offset > 0 {
-		params := url.Values{}
-		if limit > 0 {
-			params.Add("limit", fmt.Sprintf("%d", limit))
-		}
-		if offset > 0 {
-			params.Add("offset", fmt.Sprintf("%d", offset))
-		}
-		path = path + "?" + params.Encode()
-	}
+	path += buildPaginationQuery(limit, offset)
 
 	respBody, err := c.DoRequest("GET", path, nil)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -134,16 +145,7 @@ func (c *Client) GetPackageVulnerabilities(packageName string, limit, offset int
 	path := fmt.Sprintf("/%s/vulns", url.PathEscape(packageName))
 
 	// Add pagination parameters
-	if limit > 0 || offset > 0 {
-		params := url.Values{}
-		if limit > 0 {
-			params.Add("limit", fmt.Sprintf("%d", limit))
-		}
-		if offset > 0 {
-			params.Add("offset", fmt.Sprintf("%d", offset))
-		}
-		path = path + "?" + params.Encode()
-	}
+	path += buildPaginationQuery(limit, offset)
 
 	respBody, err := c.DoRequest("GET", path, nil)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/vdb/client.go b/internal/vdb/client.go
index b2cd3da..2338cf0 100644
--- a/internal/vdb/client.go
+++ b/internal/vdb/client.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	SecretKey  string
 	HTTPClient *http.Client
 	token      *TokenCache
+	tokenMutex sync.RWMutex
 }
 
 // TokenCache stores the JWT token and its expiration
@@ -66,17 +68,31 @@ func NewClient(orgID, secretKey string) *Client {
 
 // GetToken retrieves a valid JWT token (from cache or by requesting a new one)
 func (c *Client) GetToken() (string, error) {
-	// Check if we have a valid cached token
-	if c.token != nil && time.Now().Before(c.token.ExpiresAt.Add(-1*time.Minute)) {
+	// Check if we have a valid cached token with read lock
+	c.tokenMutex.RLock()
+	if c.token != nil && time.Now().Before(c.token.ExpiresAt.Add(-3*time.Minute)) {
+		token := c.token.Token
+		c.tokenMutex.RUnlock()
+		return token, nil
+	}
+	c.tokenMutex.RUnlock()
+
+	// Request a new token with write lock
+	c.tokenMutex.Lock()
+	defer c.tokenMutex.Unlock()
+
+	// Double-check after acquiring write lock (another goroutine may have refreshed)
+	if c.token != nil && time.Now().Before(c.token.ExpiresAt.Add(-3*time.Minute)) {
 		return c.token.Token, nil
 	}
 
 	// Request a new token
-	return c.requestNewToken()
+	return c.requestNewTokenLocked()
 }
 
-// requestNewToken requests a new JWT token using AWS SigV4 authentication
-func (c *Client) requestNewToken() (string, error) {
+// requestNewTokenLocked requests a new JWT token using AWS SigV4 authentication
+// Caller must hold tokenMutex write lock
+func (c *Client) requestNewTokenLocked() (string, error) {
 	path := "/auth/token"
 	url := c.BaseURL + path
 
@@ -143,10 +159,12 @@ func (c *Client) signRequest(req *http.Request, path, body string) error {
 	// Create canonical request
 	canonicalHeaders := fmt.Sprintf("x-amz-date:%s\n", amzDate)
 	signedHeaders := "x-amz-date"
+	canonicalQueryString := "" // Empty for auth endpoint, can be extended for other endpoints
 
-	canonicalRequest := fmt.Sprintf("%s\n%s\n\n%s\n%s\n%s",
+	canonicalRequest := fmt.Sprintf("%s\n%s\n%s\n%s\n%s\n%s",
 		req.Method,
 		path,
+		canonicalQueryString,
 		canonicalHeaders,
 		signedHeaders,
 		payloadHash,