diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c33e20a..d087b80 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -178,6 +178,8 @@ Put the RouterPulse `Update-URL`, `Domainnamen`, `Benutzername`, and `Kennwort`
 
 Use a subdomain such as `home.example.com`. Root/apex domains like `example.com` usually cannot be plain CNAME records unless your DNS provider supports CNAME flattening or ALIAS/ANAME records.
 
+The generated hostname is not a secret. Treat it like any public DNS name. The update URL slug, router password, private status page URL, and domain claim link are the secrets.
+
 ## Custom Domain Flow
 
 This flow is only needed when RouterPulse should publish A/AAAA records directly inside a user-owned domain instead of using a CNAME target.
@@ -274,6 +276,6 @@ Self-hosted DynDNS, self hosted DDNS, Dynamic DNS server, FRITZ!Box DynDNS, FRIT
 
 ## Security
 
-The repository intentionally contains only placeholders in `.env.example` and documentation. Do not commit a real `.env`, DNS token, TSIG secret, admin password, database, private status page URL, domain claim URL, or router-generated update URL.
+The repository intentionally contains only placeholders in `.env.example` and documentation. Do not commit a real `.env`, DNS token, TSIG secret, admin password, database, private status page URL, domain claim URL, or router-generated update URL. Generated hostnames and CNAME targets are public identifiers, not authentication secrets.
 
 If you find a vulnerability, open a private advisory or contact the repository owner before publishing details.
diff --git a/tests/test_ddns.py b/tests/test_ddns.py
index 6aab1b2..9bff7f6 100644
--- a/tests/test_ddns.py
+++ b/tests/test_ddns.py
@@ -96,6 +96,25 @@ def test_generated_account_can_update_own_hostname(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     assert slug_response.text == "good 203.0.113.10"
 
 
+def test_generated_hostname_is_not_an_update_secret(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    database_path = tmp_path / "ddns.sqlite3"
+    store = DdnsStore(database_path)
+    store.create_account("public-target.ddns.example.net", "alice")
+    app = make_app(DdnsSettings(database_path=database_path, admin_password="admin"))
+    client = TestClient(app)
+
+    response = client.get(
+        "/nic/update",
+        params={
+            "hostname": "public-target.ddns.example.net",
+            "myip": "203.0.113.9",
+        },
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 401
+    assert store.list_records() == []
+
+
 def test_dns_publish_failure_does_not_update_record(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch) -> None:
     def fail_publish(result, settings):
         raise RuntimeError("dns down")