Here is a sentence no one wants to say: "I accidentally shared the wrong spreadsheet." In the rush to adopt digital tools, we often skip the conversation about what these tools are actually doing with the information we put into them. We treat data privacy like an IT problem, when in reality, it is a human problem. It is about habits, awareness, and a little bit of paranoia. For teachers, the instinct is to find a tool that works. If a free platform solves the problem of collecting homework, we use it. But that free platform is not a charity. It is a business. And if you aren't paying for the product, you are the product. Student data—names, work, habits—is valuable. We need to ask where it is going. This doesn't mean we need to become cybersecurity experts. It means we need to practice "digital skepticism." Before adopting a new tool, we should ask: Does this need to be in the cloud? Does this need to be shared? Can I do this in a more private way? For staff handling sensitive information—records, reports, notes on student welfare—the stakes are even higher. A misdirected email containing confidential information is a breach of trust. Digital tools can help prevent this if they have features like "expiring links" or "view-only permissions." But the tool can't save you from clicking the wrong name in the autofill. We also need to talk about the longevity of data. When a student graduates, what happens to their digital footprint? Are their assignments, their comments, their data, still sitting on a server somewhere? Good digital hygiene means having a plan for data retention and, more importantly, data deletion. We should hold the digital dust of the past lightly. Creating a culture of privacy means normalizing the "double check." It means it is okay to ask a colleague, "Is this the right way to send this?" without feeling stupid. It means acknowledging that digital tools are powerful, but they are also leaky. Our job is to plug the leaks with good habits, not just better software. Disclaimer: This post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice or investment guidance.