Tech Talk with Bob

Phishing (pronounced “fishing”) is one of the many ways cyber criminals can attack you. It is the most popular strategy used by criminals to trick you into voluntarily handing them your personal data, your sensitive information, and sometimes your cash. In this type of attack, the criminal will attempt to extort cash from unwitting people by sending an email threatening to publicly humiliate the email recipient. Here’s an excerpt of one that ended up in my inbox just the other day. “Hello! I am a hacker who has access to your operating system. I also have full access to your account. I’ve been watching you for a few months now. The fact is that you were infected with malware through an adult site that you visited. If you are not familiar with this, I will explain. Trojan Virus gives me full access and control over a computer or other device. This means that I can see everything on your screen, turn on the camera and microphone, but you do not know about it.” The email continues. “I also have access to all your contacts and all your correspondence. Why your antivirus did not detect malware? Answer: My malware uses the driver, I update its signatures every 4 hours so that your antivirus is silent.” The email then threatens to release alleged videos of the recipient to all of the recipient’s contacts. “With one click of the mouse, I can send this video to all your emails and contacts on social networks. I can also post access to all your e-mail correspondence and messengers that you use.” Then they go in for the kill. “If you want to prevent this, transfer the amount of $500 to my bitcoin address. After receiving the payment, I will delete the video and you will never hear from me again. I give you 50 hours (more than 2 days) to pay. I have a notice

reading this letter, and the timer will work when you see this letter.

If I find that you have shared this message with someone else, the video will be immediately distributed. Best regards!” This social engineering technique has swindled cash from some recipients who received this email or one similar to it. Multiple versions of this email are circulating the internet. So, what do you do if one of these emails ends up in your inbox? Immediately delete it. There really is no way to avoid these emails. Even if you use spam filters some will find their way through. Your best defense is internet safety awareness. As for this phish tale, you’ll be the smart one who got away because you didn’t take the

bait. Never enter confidential information into any web site until you know the web site and your computer system is safe. Cyber criminals will exploit the easy victims and unprotected systems. Protecting yourself online is your responsibility, but you don’t have to do it all by yourself.

We’re here to help. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified IT Specialist. Call us now at 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades.

Keeping You Safer In Your Digital World!

The Tree Service and Landscape Design Pros

By Morgan Fliss explains that “trees in the urban areas of Tampa Bay endure

A beautiful garden and strong especially brutal stimuli. Some trees add the perfect curbside trees do not have the genetic appeal to any business or home. predisposition to deal with these But like any feature, the value forces.” However, at ALLPRO, the will not increase without proper arborists “custom-tailor solutions care and attention. Trees are no that promote the health of your exception! unique trees and landscapes.”

Whether you need to remove ALLPRO is ready to help a potentially hazardous tree or during the 2020 Hurricane boost your curb appeal, certified Season. The professionals show local arborist and ALLPRO owner that a category one hurricane Pete Spiridis, and his professional with winds at 74 to 95 miles per team of experts can gladly and hour can still cause damage. affordably take care of your “Large branches of trees will From creating a dangerous palm trees to southern live oak tree or landscaping needs. If snap, and shallowly rooted threat to the health of your trees, citrus trees, and beyond,” you leave tree trimming to the trees may be toppled,” possibly home or causing an infestation of said Pete on his website. professionals at ALLPRO, you causing “extensive damage to insects, it is extremely important ALLPRO also provides and your trees will be in the best power lines,” creating outages to have your trees professional affordable stump grinding that hands. All arborists use high- that can last a “few to several trimmed often. There are many eliminates the entire stump as quality equipment that is industry days.” Downed trees can block safety and aesthetic reasons to well as its root ball. Experts will approved. The ALLPRO “team roads, delaying the response for get your tree trimmed, but no grind your tree stump without is experienced, skilled, fully emergency crews, and snapped matter the reason, ALLPRO Tree having any negative impacts on licensed, and insured.” branches can become lethal and Landscaping is here to help. your land such as big holes or

Pete and the ALLPRO experts projectiles. ALLPRO serves the Tampa Bay damage to sewer lines. are at your service no matter if “After the recent heavy winds area including Pinellas, Pasco, Customers continually share you own a residential property in Tampa, we ended up with a and Hillsborough county. The nothing but great things about or a business. Their services palm tree and old landscaping experts at ALLPRO analyze and their experiences with ALLPRO. include designing impeccable mess,” says Mary H. “Pete and trim each tree in a unique matter, “ALLPRO was very responsive landscaping, trimming every type his staff took care of three fallen to make a huge impact. They will to the initial inquiry, highly of tree, grinding/removing tree palm trees, and he designed a always work with you to formulate competitive for the work that stumps, installing and removing new, clean look that meshed with a trimming plan that meets all of needed to be completed and sod, placing rock beds, and laying some exciting new landscaping. your needs. “Overgrown trees they were extremely professional mulch, just to name a few. The job was beautiful, and we should be trimmed as soon as when completing the work. They

Happy customer, Susan, could not be happier! We got possible. If your trees are young, took care of all the permits and gave nothing but compliments what we paid for as promised and it is especially important that you were flexible with the scheduling to Pete and the ALLPRO experts. on time!” have a professional trim them of the service. When they arrived, “We’re extremely pleased with The time to prepare is now. sooner rather than later. Pruning they immediately got to work and the ALLPRO. Pete immediately When you take the steps that you trees at a young age is the ideal performed the work in one day. I responded to our call for an need to make your home secure, way to spur growth and ward would HIGHLY recommend using estimate and gave us a prompt, don’t forget one crucial element off issues that could arise as the them for any work of this nature thorough, written bid. Our tree that is often overlooked and can tree matures,” Peter says on his that you need to be completed,” removal project began and was cause damage to your home, website. customer, David said. completed exactly on time and your trees. The solution is not As well as trimming trees, Another client, Julie K, gave they left our property looking the removal of trees but taking ALLPRO is the place to go when ALLPRO a five-star review by pristine. The work was excellent, proper preventative care of them. you need to remove trees that saying “Not only did he cut the and the crew was experienced, According to Pete, “more of are causing problems to your tree down, but he cleaned my professional, and friendly. I would the trees that failed during the house or business. Fully licensed gutters, cleaned my roof, planted highly recommend ALLPRO Tree 2018 and 2019 Hurricane seasons experts from ALLPRO will use sod down where he grinded the and Landscaping,” Susan said. were improperly pruned trees.” the necessary equipment to stump. He did a very professional Proper pruning not only improves remove your tree in a safe and job, pulled a permit, and had Hurricane and Severe Weather your trees’ overall health, but it timely matter. “Call us up for tree to remove a panel of our wood Damage? ALLPRO To The also ensures that your family will removal services and you will fence. They [even] replaced it Rescue! be able to enjoy the shade of enjoy a calming sense of peace, better than it was on before. This

Tampa Bay is the lightning their favorite trees for many years knowing that your property will company is honest, reasonable, capital of the United States so to come. be tended to by the best tree and very willing to go the extra there is clearly no shortage of experts in all of Tampa Bay and mile. I love this company and I lightning, hurricanes, severe Tree Trimming, Removal, and Clearwater. We remove every can’t say good enough things winds, and heavy rain. Pete Stump Grinding type of tree, from those gigantic about them!” 10 OCTOBER 2020 For Advertising Info 727-943-0551 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com

Experts in Landscape Design and Installation

Every stunning yard has its origin in exemplary landscape design and installation. ALLPRO Tree and Landscaping staffs highly creative designers who relish the opportunity to work with clients to create gorgeous landscape plans. “Our goal is to build an aesthetically pleasing landscape that requires minimal maintenance and satisfies you in every possible way,” says Pete. ALLPRO has landscape design and installation down to a science. The result is always a majestic landscape that holds its beauty across posterity.

ALLPRO Tree and Landscaping goes beyond the basics of landscape design. “We make every effort to stay within clients’ budget limits,” says Pete. “Furthermore, we get the job done with incredible speed. You won’t have to worry about our team dragging their feet and occupying your property longer than necessary. We strive to plan and build landscaping in as little

time as possible to ensure that you are provided with landscape design and installation of the highest quality.”

If you are wondering if ALLPRO lives up to its reputation of providing “the elite service that you deserve,” as their website pledges, why don’t we ask the experts? National online home service guru, Angie’s List, was impressed enough to present ALLPRO with its “Super Service Award.”

The Better Business Bureau, who analyzes and rates companies, according to both the quality of the service they provide and the complaints received about them, awarded ALLPRO Tree and Landscaping Inc. its highest rating, an A+!

Pete and the experts at ALLPRO are ready to help. Just call 727-409-3315 or 813-2449234, and don’t forget your free, no-obligation inspection. Visit their website at www.myallpro.com