diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index b48ccee..6f8cd09 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 20
     env:
-      PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL: ${{ vars.PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL }}
-      PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL: ${{ vars.PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL }}
-      PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL: ${{ vars.PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL }}
+      PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL: ${{ secrets.PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL }}
+      PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL: ${{ secrets.PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL }}
+      PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL: ${{ secrets.PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL }}
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -79,10 +79,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build site
         run: npm run build
 
-      - name: Guard — no TBD markers may ship in built HTML
+      - name: Guard — no TODO markers may ship in built HTML
         run: |
-          if grep -rl 'TBD:' dist 2>/dev/null | grep -E '\.(html|svg)$'; then
-            echo "Built output contains unfilled <TBD:...> markers."
+          if grep -rlE '(TODO|TBD):' dist 2>/dev/null | grep -E '\.(html|svg)$'; then
+            echo "Built output contains unfilled <TODO:...> (or legacy <TBD:...>) markers."
             echo "Fill in imprint.astro and privacy.astro operator fields before merging to main."
             exit 1
           fi
diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index d51136b..8823710 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 15
     env:
-      PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL: ${{ vars.PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL }}
-      PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL: ${{ vars.PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL }}
-      PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL: ${{ vars.PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL }}
+      PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL: ${{ secrets.PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL }}
+      PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL: ${{ secrets.PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL }}
+      PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL: ${{ secrets.PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL }}
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build site
         run: npm run build
 
-      - name: Guard — no TBD markers may ship in built HTML
+      - name: Guard — no TODO markers may ship in built HTML
         run: |
-          if grep -rl 'TBD:' dist 2>/dev/null | grep -E '\.(html|svg)$'; then
-            echo "Built output contains unfilled <TBD:...> markers."
+          if grep -rlE '(TODO|TBD):' dist 2>/dev/null | grep -E '\.(html|svg)$'; then
+            echo "Built output contains unfilled <TODO:...> (or legacy <TBD:...>) markers."
             echo "Fill in imprint.astro and privacy.astro operator fields before merging to main."
             exit 1
           fi
diff --git a/OPERATOR-CHECKLIST.md b/OPERATOR-CHECKLIST.md
index 146d352..dccd217 100644
--- a/OPERATOR-CHECKLIST.md
+++ b/OPERATOR-CHECKLIST.md
@@ -70,11 +70,15 @@ Add these under Repository settings → Actions → Secrets (or variables):
 | `SFTP_PATH` | secret | Absolute path to document root (e.g., `/usr/home/cameleer/public_html/www.cameleer.io`) |
 | `SFTP_KEY` | secret | Contents of `~/.ssh/cameleer-website-deploy` (private key, PEM) |
 | `SFTP_KNOWN_HOSTS` | secret | Contents of `hetzner-known-hosts.txt` (captured via `ssh-keyscan`) |
-| `PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL` | variable | `https://auth.cameleer.io/sign-in` |
-| `PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL` | variable | `https://auth.cameleer.io/sign-in?first_screen=register` |
-| `PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL` | variable | `sales@cameleer.io` (or whatever sales alias you set up) |
+| `PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNIN_URL` | secret | `https://auth.cameleer.io/sign-in` |
+| `PUBLIC_AUTH_SIGNUP_URL` | secret | `https://auth.cameleer.io/sign-in?first_screen=register` |
+| `PUBLIC_SALES_EMAIL` | secret | `sales@cameleer.io` (or whatever sales alias you set up) |
 
-## 4. Content TBD — before go-live
+These three are not actually secret (they end up in the built HTML), but Gitea's
+Actions UI puts them in the **Secrets** tab alongside the SFTP credentials. The
+workflows read them via the `${{ secrets.* }}` context.
+
+## 4. Content TODO — before go-live
 
 - [ ] Fill in `src/pages/imprint.astro` `operator` object with real legal details.
 - [ ] Fill in `operatorContact` in `src/pages/privacy.astro`.