diff --git a/nord-checker.py b/nord-checker.py
index 40ec7ef..747d77c 100644
--- a/nord-checker.py
+++ b/nord-checker.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ from psql_utils import connect_to_database, should_skip_file, update_or_insert_i
 from ovpn_downloader import download_and_extract_ovpn_configs
 from openvpn_manager import establish_vpn_connection, is_vpn_active, disconnect_vpn, get_external_ip 
 
-
 # Variables
 CREDENTIAL_FILE = "nord.creds"
 OVPN_DIR = "/root/nordvpn/ovpn_configs/ovpn_tcp" 
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
 
 # Download and extract OVPN configurations (using the function from ovpn_downloader.py)
 debug_print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [Main Script]: Downloading and extracting OVPN configurations...")
-ovpn_files = download_and_extract_ovpn_configs() # The function now returns the shuffled list
+ovpn_files = download_and_extract_ovpn_configs() 
 
 total_files = len(ovpn_files)
 
@@ -72,8 +71,6 @@ for OVPN_FILE in ovpn_files:
         username = f.readline().strip()
         password = f.readline().strip()
 
-    debug_print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: Read credentials: username={username}")
-
     # Establish VPN connection (capture stdout and stderr)
     openvpn_command = ["openvpn", "--config", f"{OVPN_DIR}/{OVPN_FILE}", 
                        "--auth-user-pass", CREDENTIAL_FILE, "--daemon", 
@@ -90,13 +87,30 @@ for OVPN_FILE in ovpn_files:
     if process.returncode != 0:
         print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: Error starting OpenVPN connection:")
         print(stderr.decode()) 
-    else:
-        debug_print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: OpenVPN output:")
-        debug_print(stdout.decode())
 
-    # Wait for connection to establish 
+    # Wait for connection to establish (with backoff for auth failure)
     print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: Waiting for VPN connection to establish...")
-    time.sleep(10)
+    max_attempts = 10
+    attempt = 0
+    backoff_time = 0
+    while attempt < max_attempts:
+        try:
+            last_lines = subprocess.check_output(["tail", "-n", "10", LOG_FILE]).decode().strip() 
+            if "Initialization Sequence Completed" in last_lines:
+                print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: VPN connection established.")
+                break
+            elif "AUTH: Received control message: AUTH_FAILED" in last_lines:
+                backoff_time += 1  # Increment backoff time
+                if backoff_time >= 30:  # If backoff reaches 30 seconds, skip
+                    print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: Authentication failed. Skipping this OVPN file.")
+                    continue  # Skip to the next OVPN file
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+            pass
+        time.sleep(1)
+        attempt += 1
+    else:
+        print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: VPN connection failed to establish (timeout).")
+        continue
 
     # Check if the VPN connection is active
     try:
@@ -128,8 +142,8 @@ for OVPN_FILE in ovpn_files:
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
         print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: No openvpn process found.")
 
-    # Wait for a random time between 8 and 30 seconds
-    sleep_time = random.randint(6, 8) 
+    # Wait for a random time between 5 and 8 seconds
+    sleep_time = random.randint(5, 8) 
     print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: Waiting for {sleep_time} seconds before the next connection...")
     time.sleep(sleep_time)
     print(f"{datetime.datetime.now()} [{FILE_NUM}/{total_files}] [{OVPN_FILENAME}]: Resuming...")
@@ -139,4 +153,7 @@ for OVPN_FILE in ovpn_files:
 
 # Close the database connection
 cursor.close()
-conn.close()
\ No newline at end of file
+conn.close()
+
+# Close the log file
+log_file.close()
\ No newline at end of file