diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2a413ef..73d06fa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ Crystal bindings for the [libsodium API](https://libsodium.gitbook.io/doc/)
   - [ ] [One time auth](https://libsodium.gitbook.io/doc/advanced/poly1305)
   - [ ] Padding
 - Library features
-  - Faster builds by requiring what you need (`require "sodium/secret_box"`)
-  - Controlled memory wiping (by calling `.close`)
-  - Semi-automatic memory wiping (on GC).
+  - [x] Faster builds by requiring what you need (`require "sodium/secret_box"`)
+  - [x] All SecretKey's held in libsodium guarded memory.
+  - [ ] Controlled memory wiping (by calling `.close`)
 
 ☑ Indicate specs are compared against test vectors from another source.
 
@@ -96,38 +96,17 @@ dependencies:
 
 ## Usage
 
-The `specs` provide the best examples of how to use or misuse this shard.
+See `examples` for help on using these classes in a complete application.
 
-### Warning
+The `specs` provide the best examples of how to use or misuse individual classes.
 
-This library uses automatic memory wiping.  **Make sure you write your keys to disk or send them over a network
-before losing references to objects that contain keys.**  You may also call `.dup`.
 
-```crystal
-# Returns Bytes representation and loses reference to SecretKey
-def new_key
-  secret_key = Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new
-  secret_key.bytes
-end
-
-saved_key = new_key
-
-p saved_key[0, 8]
-GC.collect
-p saved_key[0, 8]
-```
-    
-```
-# Before GC
-Bytes[175, 134, 134, 159, 149, 208, 171, 251]
-# After GC
-Bytes[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
-```
 
 You may call `.close` on any object that retains keying material to wipe it's key(s) earlier.
 Objects with a  `.close` method also respond to `Class.open` and wipe when the block returns.
 
 ```crystal
+# TODO
 Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.open(sec_key, pub_key) do |secret_key|
  ... Do crypto operations ...
 end
diff --git a/spec/sodium/crypto_box/secret_key_spec.cr b/spec/sodium/crypto_box/secret_key_spec.cr
index 3fada64..0f69379 100644
--- a/spec/sodium/crypto_box/secret_key_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/sodium/crypto_box/secret_key_spec.cr
@@ -2,30 +2,30 @@ require "../../spec_helper"
 require "../../../src/sodium/crypto_box/secret_key"
 
 private def new_key_bytes
-  Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new.bytes
+  Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new.to_slice
 end
 
 describe Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey do
   it "loads keys" do
     key1 = Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new
-    key2 = Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new key1.bytes, key1.public_key.bytes
-    key1.bytes.should eq key2.bytes
-    key1.public_key.bytes.should eq key2.public_key.bytes
+    key2 = Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new key1.to_slice, key1.public_key.to_slice
+    key1.to_slice.should eq key2.to_slice
+    key1.public_key.to_slice.should eq key2.public_key.to_slice
   end
 
   it "recomputes the public_key" do
     key1 = Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new
-    key2 = Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new key1.bytes
-    key1.bytes.should eq key2.bytes
-    key1.public_key.bytes.should eq key2.public_key.bytes
+    key2 = Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new key1.to_slice
+    key1.to_slice.should eq key2.to_slice
+    key1.public_key.to_slice.should eq key2.public_key.to_slice
   end
 
   it "seed keys" do
     seed = Bytes.new Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey::SEED_SIZE
     key1 = Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new seed: seed
     key2 = Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey.new seed: seed
-    key1.bytes.should eq key2.bytes
-    key1.public_key.bytes.should eq key2.public_key.bytes
+    key1.to_slice.should eq key2.to_slice
+    key1.public_key.to_slice.should eq key2.public_key.to_slice
   end
 
   it "authenticated easy encrypt/decrypt" do
@@ -65,8 +65,4 @@ describe Sodium::CryptoBox::SecretKey do
 
     String.new(decrypted).should eq(data)
   end
-
-  it "wipes keys" do
-    check_wiped new_key_bytes
-  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/sodium/kdf_spec.cr b/spec/sodium/kdf_spec.cr
index f8d86b2..4185a6b 100644
--- a/spec/sodium/kdf_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/sodium/kdf_spec.cr
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ describe Sodium::Kdf do
     kdf1 = Sodium::Kdf.new
 
     # verify loading saved key
-    kdf2 = Sodium::Kdf.new kdf1.bytes
+    kdf2 = Sodium::Kdf.new kdf1.to_slice.dup
 
     # verify generated subkey's are the same after loading
     key1_s1 = kdf1.derive CONTEXT, 0, 16
diff --git a/spec/sodium/pwhash_spec.cr b/spec/sodium/pwhash_spec.cr
index 2df53dc..45048d1 100644
--- a/spec/sodium/pwhash_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/sodium/pwhash_spec.cr
@@ -71,18 +71,18 @@ describe Sodium::Pwhash do
   it "key_derive fails without a mode" do
     pwhash = pw_min
     expect_raises(ArgumentError) do
-      pwhash.key_derive pwhash.salt, "foo", 16
+      pwhash.key_derive pwhash.random_salt, "foo", 16
     end
   end
 
   it "derives a key from a password" do
     pwhash = pw_min
     pwhash.mode = Sodium::Pwhash::Mode::Argon2id13
-    salt = pwhash.salt
+    salt = pwhash.random_salt
     key1 = pwhash.key_derive salt, "foo", 16
     key2 = pwhash.key_derive salt, "foo", 16
     key3 = pwhash.key_derive salt, "bar", 16
-    key4 = pwhash.key_derive pwhash.salt, "foo", 16
+    key4 = pwhash.key_derive pwhash.random_salt, "foo", 16
 
     key1.bytesize.should eq 16
     key1.should eq key2
diff --git a/spec/sodium/sign/secret_key_spec.cr b/spec/sodium/sign/secret_key_spec.cr
index 4a36983..82cee5e 100644
--- a/spec/sodium/sign/secret_key_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/sodium/sign/secret_key_spec.cr
@@ -1,31 +1,31 @@
 require "../../spec_helper"
 require "../../../src/sodium/sign/secret_key"
 
-private def new_sign_key_bytes
-  Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new.bytes
+private def new_sign_key_to_slice
+  Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new.to_slice
 end
 
 describe Sodium::Sign::SecretKey do
   it "loads keys" do
     key1 = Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new
-    key2 = Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new key1.bytes, key1.public_key.bytes
-    key1.bytes.should eq key2.bytes
-    key1.public_key.bytes.should eq key2.public_key.bytes
+    key2 = Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new key1.to_slice, key1.public_key.to_slice
+    key1.to_slice.should eq key2.to_slice
+    key1.public_key.to_slice.should eq key2.public_key.to_slice
   end
 
   it "recomputes the public key" do
     key1 = Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new
-    key2 = Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new key1.bytes
-    key1.bytes.should eq key2.bytes
-    key1.public_key.bytes.should eq key2.public_key.bytes
+    key2 = Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new key1.to_slice
+    key1.to_slice.should eq key2.to_slice
+    key1.public_key.to_slice.should eq key2.public_key.to_slice
   end
 
   it "seed keys" do
     seed = Bytes.new Sodium::Sign::SecretKey::SEED_SIZE
     key1 = Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new seed: seed
     key2 = Sodium::Sign::SecretKey.new seed: seed
-    key1.bytes.should eq key2.bytes
-    key1.public_key.bytes.should eq key2.public_key.bytes
+    key1.to_slice.should eq key2.to_slice
+    key1.public_key.to_slice.should eq key2.public_key.to_slice
   end
 
   it "signs and verifies" do
@@ -45,8 +45,4 @@ describe Sodium::Sign::SecretKey do
       skey.public_key.verify_detached "bar", sig
     end
   end
-
-  it "checks wiped" do
-    check_wiped new_sign_key_bytes
-  end
 end
diff --git a/src/sodium/crypto_box.cr b/src/sodium/crypto_box.cr
index 1d49607..2bed26b 100644
--- a/src/sodium/crypto_box.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/crypto_box.cr
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ module Sodium
   class CryptoBox
     include Wipe
 
-    MAC_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_box_macbytes
+    MAC_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_box_macbytes.to_i
 
     # BUG: precompute size
     @[Wipe::Var]
diff --git a/src/sodium/crypto_box/public_key.cr b/src/sodium/crypto_box/public_key.cr
index 4639f3c..22fab3b 100644
--- a/src/sodium/crypto_box/public_key.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/crypto_box/public_key.cr
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ require "../key"
 
 class Sodium::CryptoBox
   class PublicKey < Key
-    KEY_SIZE  = LibSodium.crypto_box_publickeybytes
+    KEY_SIZE  = LibSodium.crypto_box_publickeybytes.to_i
     SEAL_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_box_sealbytes
 
-    getter bytes : Bytes
+    delegate to_slice, to: @bytes
 
     # :nodoc:
     # Only used by SecretKey
diff --git a/src/sodium/crypto_box/secret_key.cr b/src/sodium/crypto_box/secret_key.cr
index 7813c7b..9c6b00f 100644
--- a/src/sodium/crypto_box/secret_key.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/crypto_box/secret_key.cr
@@ -6,55 +6,73 @@ require "../crypto_box"
 class Sodium::CryptoBox
   # Key used for encryption + authentication or encryption without authentication, not for unencrypted signing.
   #
-  # WARNING: This class takes ownership of any key material passed to it.
   # If you don't want this behavior pass a duplicate of the key/seed to initialize().
   class SecretKey < Key
-    KEY_SIZE  = LibSodium.crypto_box_secretkeybytes
-    SEED_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_box_seedbytes
-    SEAL_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_box_sealbytes
+    KEY_SIZE  = LibSodium.crypto_box_secretkeybytes.to_i
+    SEED_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_box_seedbytes.to_i
+    SEAL_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_box_sealbytes.to_i
 
     getter public_key : PublicKey
 
-    @[Wipe::Var]
-    getter bytes : Bytes
-    @[Wipe::Var]
-    @seed : Bytes?
+    delegate to_slice, to: @sbuf
+
+    @seed : SecureBuffer?
 
     # Generate a new random secret/public key pair.
     def initialize
-      @bytes = Bytes.new(KEY_SIZE)
+      @sbuf = SecureBuffer.new KEY_SIZE
       @public_key = PublicKey.new
-      if LibSodium.crypto_box_keypair(@public_key.bytes, @bytes) != 0
+      if LibSodium.crypto_box_keypair(@public_key.to_slice, self.to_slice) != 0
         raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_box_keypair")
       end
     end
 
     # Use existing secret and public keys.
+    # Copies secret key to a SecureBuffer.
     # Recomputes the public key from a secret key if missing.
-    def initialize(@bytes : Bytes, pkey : Bytes? = nil)
+    def initialize(bytes : Bytes, pkey : Bytes? = nil)
       raise ArgumentError.new("Secret key must be #{KEY_SIZE} bytes, got #{bytes.bytesize}") if bytes.bytesize != KEY_SIZE
+      @sbuf = SecureBuffer.new bytes
       if pk = pkey
         @public_key = PublicKey.new pk
       else
         @public_key = PublicKey.new
-        if LibSodium.crypto_scalarmult_base(@public_key.bytes, @bytes) != 0
+        if LibSodium.crypto_scalarmult_base(@public_key.to_slice, self.to_slice) != 0
           raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_scalarmult_base")
         end
       end
     end
 
     # Derive a new secret/public key pair based on a consistent seed.
-    def initialize(*, seed : Bytes)
+    # Copies seed to a SecureBuffer.
+    def initialize(*, seed : Bytes, erase = false)
+      raise ArgumentError.new("Secret sign seed must be #{SEED_SIZE}, got #{seed.bytesize}") unless seed.bytesize == SEED_SIZE
+      @seed = SecureBuffer.new seed, erase: erase
+
+      @sbuf = SecureBuffer.new KEY_SIZE
+      @public_key = PublicKey.new
+      if LibSodium.crypto_box_seed_keypair(@public_key.to_slice, self.to_slice, seed) != 0
+        raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_box_seed_keypair")
+      end
+    end
+
+    # Derive a new secret/public key pair based on a consistent seed.
+    def initialize(*, seed : SecureBuffer)
       raise ArgumentError.new("Secret sign seed must be #{SEED_SIZE}, got #{seed.bytesize}") unless seed.bytesize == SEED_SIZE
       @seed = seed
 
-      @bytes = Bytes.new(KEY_SIZE)
+      @sbuf = SecureBuffer.new KEY_SIZE
       @public_key = PublicKey.new
-      if LibSodium.crypto_box_seed_keypair(@public_key.bytes, @bytes, seed) != 0
+      if LibSodium.crypto_box_seed_keypair(@public_key.to_slice, self.to_slice, seed) != 0
         raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_box_seed_keypair")
       end
     end
 
+    def seed
+      # BUG: Generate seed if not set.
+      @seed.not_nil!.to_slice
+    end
+
     # Return a Box containing a precomputed shared secret for use with authenticated encryption/decryption.
     def box(public_key) : CryptoBox
       CryptoBox.new self, public_key
@@ -77,7 +95,7 @@ class Sodium::CryptoBox
     end
 
     def decrypt(src : Bytes, dst : Bytes = Bytes.new(src.bytesize - SEAL_SIZE)) : Bytes
-      if LibSodium.crypto_box_seal_open(dst, src, src.bytesize, @public_key.bytes, @bytes) != 0
+      if LibSodium.crypto_box_seal_open(dst, src, src.bytesize, @public_key.to_slice, self.to_slice) != 0
         raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_box_seal_open")
       end
       dst
diff --git a/src/sodium/kdf.cr b/src/sodium/kdf.cr
index 2cc0430..a8fc754 100644
--- a/src/sodium/kdf.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/kdf.cr
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require "./lib_sodium"
+require "./secure_buffer"
 require "./wipe"
 
 module Sodium
@@ -17,33 +18,38 @@ module Sodium
   class Kdf
     include Wipe
 
-    KEY_SIZE     = LibSodium.crypto_kdf_keybytes
+    KEY_SIZE     = LibSodium.crypto_kdf_keybytes.to_i
     CONTEXT_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_kdf_contextbytes
 
-    @[Wipe::Var]
-    getter bytes : Bytes
-
-    delegate to_slice, to: @bytes
+    delegate to_slice, to: @sbuf
 
     # Use an existing KDF key.
     #
-    # WARNING: This class takes ownership of any key material passed to it.
-    # If you don't want this behavior pass a duplicate of the key to initialize().
-    def initialize(bytes : Bytes)
+    # Optionally erases bytes after copying if erase is set
+    def initialize(bytes : Bytes, erase = false)
       if bytes.bytesize != KEY_SIZE
         raise ArgumentError.new("bytes must be #{KEY_SIZE}, got #{bytes.bytesize}")
       end
 
-      @bytes = bytes
+      @sbuf = SecureBuffer.new bytes, erase
+    end
+
+    # Use an existing KDF SecureBuffer key.
+    #
+    # WARNING: This class takes ownership of any key material passed to it.
+    # If you don't want this behavior pass a duplicate of the key to initialize().
+    def initialize(@sbuf : SecureBuffer)
+      if @sbuf.bytesize != KEY_SIZE
+        raise ArgumentError.new("bytes must be #{KEY_SIZE}, got #{sbuf.bytesize}")
+      end
+      @sbuf.readonly
     end
 
     # Generate a new random KDF key.
     #
-    # WARNING: This class takes ownership of any key material passed to it.
-    #
-    # Make sure to save kdf.bytes before kdf goes out of scope.
+    # Make sure to save kdf.to_slice before kdf goes out of scope.
     def initialize
-      @bytes = Random::Secure.random_bytes(KEY_SIZE)
+      @sbuf = SecureBuffer.random KEY_SIZE
     end
 
     # Derive a consistent subkey based on `context` and `subkey_id`.
@@ -52,17 +58,42 @@ module Sodium
     # * context must be 8 bytes
     # * subkey_size must be 16..64 bytes as of libsodium 1.0.17
     #
-    def derive(context, subkey_id, subkey_size)
+    # Returns a SecureBuffer.  May transfer ownership to SecretBox or SecretKey without copying.
+    def derive(context, subkey_id, subkey_size) : SecureBuffer
       context = context.to_slice
       if context.bytesize != CONTEXT_SIZE
         raise ArgumentError.new("context must be #{CONTEXT_SIZE}, got #{context.bytesize}")
       end
 
-      subkey = Bytes.new subkey_size
-      if (ret = LibSodium.crypto_kdf_derive_from_key(subkey, subkey.bytesize, subkey_id, context, @bytes)) != 0
+      subkey = SecureBuffer.new subkey_size
+      if (ret = LibSodium.crypto_kdf_derive_from_key(subkey, subkey.bytesize, subkey_id, context, self.to_slice)) != 0
         raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_kdf_derive_from_key returned #{ret} (subkey size is probably out of range)")
       end
       subkey
     end
+
+    # Convenience method to create a new CryptoBox::Secret without handling the key.
+    #
+    # See derive() for further information on context and subkey_id.
+    def derive_cryptobox(context, subkey_id) : CryptoBox::SecretKey
+      subkey = derive context, subkey_id, CryptoBox::SecretKey::SEED_SIZE
+      CryptoBox::SecretKey.new seed: subkey
+    end
+
+    # Convenience method to create a new Sign::Secret without handling the key.
+    #
+    # See derive() for further information on context and subkey_id.
+    def derive_sign(context, subkey_id) : Sign::SecretKey
+      subkey = derive context, subkey_id, Sign::SecretKey::SEED_SIZE
+      Sign::SecretKey.new seed: subkey
+    end
+
+    # Convenience method to create a new SecretBox without handling the key.
+    #
+    # See derive() for further information on context and subkey_id.
+    def derive_secretbox(context, subkey_id) : SecretBox
+      subkey = derive context, subkey_id, SecretBox::KEY_SIZE
+      SecretBox.new subkey
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/src/sodium/key.cr b/src/sodium/key.cr
index d1e4a82..ab65faa 100644
--- a/src/sodium/key.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/key.cr
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
+require "./secure_buffer"
 require "./wipe"
 
 module Sodium
   abstract class Key
     include Sodium::Wipe
 
-    abstract def bytes
-
-    delegate to_slice, to: @bytes
+    abstract def to_slice : Bytes
 
     def to_base64
-      Base64.encode(bytes)
+      Base64.encode(to_slice)
     end
 
     def self.from_base64(encoded_key)
diff --git a/src/sodium/lib_sodium.cr b/src/sodium/lib_sodium.cr
index 44bd0e9..a474d4e 100644
--- a/src/sodium/lib_sodium.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/lib_sodium.cr
@@ -44,8 +44,16 @@ module Sodium
     fun crypto_generichash_blake2b_keybytes_max : LibC::SizeT
     fun crypto_generichash_blake2b_saltbytes : LibC::SizeT
     fun crypto_generichash_blake2b_personalbytes : LibC::SizeT
+
     fun sodium_memzero(Pointer(LibC::UChar), LibC::SizeT) : Nil
 
+    fun sodium_malloc(LibC::SizeT) : Pointer(LibC::UChar)
+    fun sodium_free(Pointer(LibC::UChar)) : Nil
+
+    fun sodium_mprotect_noaccess(Pointer(LibC::UChar)) : LibC::Int
+    fun sodium_mprotect_readonly(Pointer(LibC::UChar)) : LibC::Int
+    fun sodium_mprotect_readwrite(Pointer(LibC::UChar)) : LibC::Int
+
     NONCE_SIZE = crypto_box_noncebytes()
 
     fun crypto_secretbox_easy(
diff --git a/src/sodium/pwhash.cr b/src/sodium/pwhash.cr
index 01ac764..b1d9a17 100644
--- a/src/sodium/pwhash.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/pwhash.cr
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require "./lib_sodium"
+require "./secure_buffer"
 
 module Sodium
   # [Argon2 Password Hashing](https://libsodium.gitbook.io/doc/password_hashing/the_argon2i_function)
@@ -74,19 +75,19 @@ module Sodium
       end
     end
 
-    # Returns a consistent key based on [salt, pass, key_bytes, mode, ops_limit, mem_limit]
+    # Returns a consistent key based on [salt, pass, key_bytes, mode, ops_limit, mem_limit] in a SecureBuffer
     #
     # Must set a mode before calling.
     def key_derive(salt, pass, key_bytes)
       key_derive salt.to_slice, pass.to_slice, key_bytes
     end
 
-    def key_derive(salt : Bytes, pass : Bytes, key_bytes) : Bytes
+    def key_derive(salt : Bytes, pass : Bytes, key_bytes) : SecureBuffer
       raise "salt expected #{SALT_SIZE} bytes, got #{salt.bytesize} " if salt.bytesize != SALT_SIZE
 
       if m = mode
-        key = Bytes.new key_bytes
-        if LibSodium.crypto_pwhash(key, key.bytesize, pass, pass.bytesize, salt, @opslimit, @memlimit, m) != 0
+        key = SecureBuffer.new key_bytes
+        if LibSodium.crypto_pwhash(key.to_slice, key.bytesize, pass, pass.bytesize, salt, @opslimit, @memlimit, m) != 0
           raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_pwhash_str")
         end
         key
@@ -95,8 +96,14 @@ module Sodium
       end
     end
 
+    # Derives a key using key_derive and returns KDF.new(key)
+    def kdf_derive(salt, pass, key_bytes) : Kdf
+      key = key_derive salt, pass, key_bytes
+      Kdf.new key
+    end
+
     # Returns a random salt for use with #key_derive
-    def salt
+    def random_salt
       Random::Secure.random_bytes SALT_SIZE
     end
   end
diff --git a/src/sodium/secret_box.cr b/src/sodium/secret_box.cr
index 27187a8..c97e21c 100644
--- a/src/sodium/secret_box.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/secret_box.cr
@@ -18,23 +18,33 @@ module Sodium
   # message = key.decrypt_easy encrypted, nonce
   # ```
   class SecretBox < Key
-    KEY_SIZE   = LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_keybytes
-    NONCE_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_noncebytes
-    MAC_SIZE   = LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_macbytes
+    KEY_SIZE   = LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_keybytes.to_i
+    NONCE_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_noncebytes.to_i
+    MAC_SIZE   = LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_macbytes.to_i
 
-    @[Wipe::Var]
-    getter bytes : Bytes
+    delegate to_slice, to: @buf
 
-    # Generate a new random key.
+    # Generate a new random key held in a SecureBuffer.
     def initialize
-      @bytes = Random::Secure.random_bytes(KEY_SIZE)
+      @buf = SecureBuffer.random KEY_SIZE
     end
 
-    # Use an existing key from bytes.
-    def initialize(@bytes : Bytes)
+    # Use an existing SecureBuffer.
+    protected def initialize(@buf : SecureBuffer)
+      if @buf.bytesize != KEY_SIZE
+        raise ArgumentError.new("Secret key must be #{KEY_SIZE} bytes, got #{@buf.bytesize}")
+      end
+      @buf.readonly
+    end
+
+    # Copy bytes to a new SecureBuffer
+    #
+    # Optionally erases bytes after copying if erase is set
+    protected def initialize(bytes : Bytes, erase = false)
       if bytes.bytesize != KEY_SIZE
         raise ArgumentError.new("Secret key must be #{KEY_SIZE} bytes, got #{bytes.bytesize}")
       end
+      @buf = SecureBuffer.new bytes, erase: erase
     end
 
     def encrypt_easy(data)
@@ -60,7 +70,7 @@ module Sodium
       if dst.bytesize != (src.bytesize + MAC_SIZE)
         raise ArgumentError.new("dst.bytesize must be src.bytesize + MAC_SIZE, got #{dst.bytesize}")
       end
-      if LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_easy(dst, src, src.bytesize, nonce.to_slice, @bytes) != 0
+      if LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_easy(dst, src, src.bytesize, nonce.to_slice, self.to_slice) != 0
         raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_secretbox_easy")
       end
       dst
@@ -77,7 +87,7 @@ module Sodium
       if dst.bytesize != (src.bytesize - MAC_SIZE)
         raise ArgumentError.new("dst.bytesize must be src.bytesize - MAC_SIZE, got #{dst.bytesize}")
       end
-      if LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_open_easy(dst, src, src.bytesize, nonce.to_slice, @bytes) != 0
+      if LibSodium.crypto_secretbox_open_easy(dst, src, src.bytesize, nonce.to_slice, self.to_slice) != 0
         raise Sodium::Error::DecryptionFailed.new("crypto_secretbox_easy")
       end
       dst
diff --git a/src/sodium/secure_buffer.cr b/src/sodium/secure_buffer.cr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..377b70d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sodium/secure_buffer.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+require "./lib_sodium"
+require "./wipe"
+
+module Sodium
+  class SecureBuffer
+    getter bytesize
+
+    # Allocate guarded memory using [sodium_malloc](https://libsodium.gitbook.io/doc/memory_management)
+    def initialize(@bytesize : Int32)
+      @ptr = LibSodium.sodium_malloc @bytesize
+    end
+
+    # Returns a **readonly** random SecureBuffer.
+    def self.random(size)
+      buf = new(size)
+      Random::Secure.random_bytes buf.to_slice
+      buf.readonly
+    end
+
+    # Copies bytes to a **readonly** SecureBuffer.
+    # Optionally erases bytes after copying if erase is set
+    def initialize(bytes : Bytes, erase = false)
+      initialize bytes.bytesize
+      bytes.copy_to self.to_slice
+      Sodium.memzero(bytes) if erase
+      readonly
+    end
+
+    def wipe
+      readwrite
+      Sodium.memzero self.to_slice
+    end
+
+    def finalize
+      LibSodium.sodium_free @ptr
+    end
+
+    def to_slice
+      Slice(UInt8).new @ptr, @bytesize
+    end
+
+    def to_unsafe
+      @ptr
+    end
+
+    # Makes a region allocated using sodium_malloc() or sodium_allocarray() inaccessible. It cannot be read or written, but the data are preserved.
+    def noaccess
+      if LibSodium.sodium_mprotect_noaccess(@ptr) != 0
+        raise "sodium_mprotect_noaccess"
+      end
+      self
+    end
+
+    # Marks a region allocated using sodium_malloc() or sodium_allocarray() as read-only.
+    def readonly
+      if LibSodium.sodium_mprotect_readonly(@ptr) != 0
+        raise "sodium_mprotect_readonly"
+      end
+      self
+    end
+
+    # Marks a region allocated using sodium_malloc() or sodium_allocarray() as readable and writable, after having been protected using sodium_mprotect_readonly() or sodium_mprotect_noaccess().
+    def readwrite
+      if LibSodium.sodium_mprotect_readwrite(@ptr) != 0
+        raise "sodium_mprotect_readwrite"
+      end
+      self
+    end
+
+    def ==(other : self)
+      self.to_slice == other.to_slice
+    end
+
+    def ==(other : Bytes)
+      self.to_slice == other
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/src/sodium/sign/public_key.cr b/src/sodium/sign/public_key.cr
index 940f0b0..d4113bd 100644
--- a/src/sodium/sign/public_key.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/sign/public_key.cr
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ require "../lib_sodium"
 
 module Sodium
   class Sign::PublicKey < Key
-    KEY_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_sign_publickeybytes
-    SIG_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_sign_bytes
+    KEY_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_sign_publickeybytes.to_i
+    SIG_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_sign_bytes.to_i
 
-    getter bytes : Bytes
+    delegate to_slice, to: @bytes
 
     # :nodoc:
     # Only used by SecretKey
diff --git a/src/sodium/sign/secret_key.cr b/src/sodium/sign/secret_key.cr
index a2e68cb..fb730fd 100644
--- a/src/sodium/sign/secret_key.cr
+++ b/src/sodium/sign/secret_key.cr
@@ -15,49 +15,57 @@ module Sodium
   # key.public_key.verify_detached data
   # ```
   class Sign::SecretKey < Sodium::Key
-    KEY_SIZE  = LibSodium.crypto_sign_secretkeybytes
-    SIG_SIZE  = LibSodium.crypto_sign_bytes
-    SEED_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_sign_seedbytes
+    KEY_SIZE  = LibSodium.crypto_sign_secretkeybytes.to_i
+    SIG_SIZE  = LibSodium.crypto_sign_bytes.to_i
+    SEED_SIZE = LibSodium.crypto_sign_seedbytes.to_i
 
     getter public_key : PublicKey
 
-    @[Wipe::Var]
-    getter bytes : Bytes
-    @[Wipe::Var]
-    @seed : Bytes?
+    delegate to_slice, to: @sbuf
+
+    @seed : SecureBuffer?
 
     # Generates a new random secret/public key pair.
     def initialize
-      @bytes = Bytes.new(KEY_SIZE)
+      @sbuf = SecureBuffer.new KEY_SIZE
       @public_key = PublicKey.new
-      if LibSodium.crypto_sign_keypair(@public_key.bytes, @bytes) != 0
+      if LibSodium.crypto_sign_keypair(@public_key.to_slice, self.to_slice) != 0
         raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_sign_keypair")
       end
     end
 
     # Use existing secret and public keys.
+    # Copies secret key to a SecureBuffer.
     # Recomputes the public key from a secret key if missing.
-    def initialize(@bytes : Bytes, pkey : Bytes? = nil)
-      raise ArgumentError.new("Secret sign key must be #{KEY_SIZE}, got #{@bytes.bytesize}") unless @bytes.bytesize == KEY_SIZE
+    def initialize(bytes : Bytes, pkey : Bytes? = nil)
+      raise ArgumentError.new("Secret sign key must be #{KEY_SIZE}, got #{bytes.bytesize}") unless bytes.bytesize == KEY_SIZE
 
+      @sbuf = SecureBuffer.new bytes
       if pk = pkey
         @public_key = PublicKey.new pkey
       else
         @public_key = PublicKey.new
-        if LibSodium.crypto_sign_ed25519_sk_to_pk(@public_key.bytes, @bytes) != 0
+        if LibSodium.crypto_sign_ed25519_sk_to_pk(@public_key.to_slice, self.to_slice) != 0
           raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_sign_ed25519_sk_to_pk")
         end
       end
     end
 
     # Derive a new secret/public key pair based on a consistent seed.
-    def initialize(*, seed : Bytes)
+    # Copies seed to a SecureBuffer.
+    def initialize(*, seed : Bytes, erase = false)
+      raise ArgumentError.new("Secret sign seed must be #{SEED_SIZE}, got #{seed.bytesize}") unless seed.bytesize == SEED_SIZE
+      initialize(seed: SecureBuffer.new(seed, erase: erase))
+    end
+
+    # Derive a new secret/public key pair based on a consistent seed.
+    def initialize(*, seed : SecureBuffer)
       raise ArgumentError.new("Secret sign seed must be #{SEED_SIZE}, got #{seed.bytesize}") unless seed.bytesize == SEED_SIZE
       @seed = seed
 
-      @bytes = Bytes.new(KEY_SIZE)
+      @sbuf = SecureBuffer.new KEY_SIZE
       @public_key = PublicKey.new
-      if LibSodium.crypto_sign_seed_keypair(@public_key.bytes, @bytes, seed) != 0
+      if LibSodium.crypto_sign_seed_keypair(@public_key.to_slice, self.to_slice, seed.to_slice) != 0
         raise Sodium::Error.new("crypto_sign_seed_keypair")
       end
     end
@@ -70,7 +78,7 @@ module Sodium
 
     def sign_detached(message : Bytes)
       sig = Bytes.new(SIG_SIZE)
-      if LibSodium.crypto_sign_detached(sig, out sig_len, message, message.bytesize, @bytes) != 0
+      if LibSodium.crypto_sign_detached(sig, out sig_len, message, message.bytesize, self.to_slice) != 0
         raise Error.new("crypto_sign_detached")
       end
       sig