Facebook Security Tips

Facebook has released a new security guide for parents, teens and educators called (appropriately), “Guide to Facebook Security”.

The guide comes int he form of a downloadable handbook written by former Symantec Internet safety expert Linda McCarthy, Purdue University security researcher Keith Watson and teacher/editor Denise wldon-Siviy.

The guide includes tips on protecting your Facebook account, avoiding scammers, using advanced security settings, recovering from hacked Facebook accounts and stopping impostors.

“If you’re not using one-time passwords, secure browsing, or even tracking your account activity, this guide shows you how. It even explains why account thieves and malware pushers want your account,” says Facebook’s security team.
 
“Thanks to Facebook and Creative Commons licensing, this guide is not only fact-filled – it’s also free!” the team adds.

There is a section for top tips in the guide. Those tips are as follows:

• Only Friend people you know.
• Create a good password and use it only for Facebook.
• Don’t share your password.
• Change your password on a regular basis.  
• Share your personal information only with people and companies that need it.
• Log into Facebook only ONCE each session. If it looks like Facebook is asking you to log in a second time, skip the links and
  directly type www.facebook.com into your browser address bar.
• Use a one-time password when using someone else’s computer.
• Log out of Facebook after using someone else’s computer.
• Use secure browsing whenever possible.
• Only download Apps from sites you trust.
• Keep your anti-virus software updated.
• Keep your browser and other applications up to date.
• Don’t paste script (code) in your browser address bar.
• Use browser add-ons like Web of Trust and Firefox’s NoScript to keep your account from being hijacked.
• Beware of “goofy” posts from anyone—even Friends. If it looks like something your Friend wouldn’t post, don’t click on it.
• Scammers might hack your Friends’ accounts and send links from their accounts. Beware of enticing links coming from
  your Friends.

The whole guide can be downloaded here for free.

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Marketing Misstep: Nivea Pulls Ad That Sparked Racial Controversy

According to Nivea, the shaggy, disheveled look is out. But in an attempt to relay that message, the skincare brand is in the midst of a public-relations blunder for releasing an ad that many believed was racist.

The contentious print ad, which appeared in the September issue of Esquire, shows a well-groomed black man about to toss what looks like a rubber mask with scruffy facial hair and a large afro. The short-haired model, who is clean-shaven and wearing preppy casual Friday attire, sharply contrasts his former, pre-Nivea-using symbolic self. The text emblazoned over the model: RE-CIVILIZE YOURSELF.

(LIST: Top 10 Tasteless Ads)

The text in particular has been deemed insensitive and racist, as the idea of being “uncivilized” has historically been associated with African Americans, Africans, and pretty much anyone who isn’t white, Western or “first world.”

The ad, which is part of Nivea for Men’s “Look Like You Give a Damn” campaign, was heavily criticized: The “message couldn’t be clearer: natural hair on a black man isn’t a style preference or a nod to afrocentrism–it’s straight-up uncivilized,” wrote GOOD’s Nona Willis Aronowitz.

Public outrage ensued, especially on Twitter, which resulted in a prompt apology by Nivea.

Beiersdorf AG, the parent company of Nivea, released the following statement to CNN: “After realizing that this ad is misleading, it was immediately withdrawn.” The apology also emphasized that Nivea values and represents “diversity, tolerance, and equal opportunity.” Nivea USA also posted on its Facebook page: “This ad was inappropriate and offensive. It was never our intention to offend anyone, and for this we are deeply sorry. This ad will never be used again.”

The new marketing campaign includes many variations of this ad, including one that features a white male model holding an even creepier looking rubber head. But the text in that version reads: SIN CITY ISN’T AN EXCUSE TO LOOK LIKE HELL. No other ad, other than the one featuring the black model, refers to the term “civilize.”

One of the latest models for Nivea cosmetics is recording artist Rihanna, and some are calling for the singer to sever her contract.

Kai Ma is a TIME contributor. Find her on Twitter at @Kai_Ma or on Google+. You can also continue the discussion on TIME‘s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.

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