"It doesn't have a soul."Soulless InkA tattoo enthusiast was mighty peeved when she learned mid-session that her tattoo artist had used artificial intelligence to "draw" her massive leg piece."He was kind of proud," 30-year-old Helsinki resident Kaarina Vuorinen told the Wall Street Journal, referring to her gothic sword tattoo session. "I was like, in shock. I was so disappointed."Ultimately, Vuorinen decided to let her artist finish the neo-traditional piece he'd "designed" for her. Still, she's not really happy with the sword."Its pretty," she remarked, "but it doesnt have a soul."That sentiment seems to be one shared among other tattoo traditionalists who consider the practice of using AI to create skin art taboo a growing trend given the wide proliferation of popular AI image generators."Youre essentially cheating," New Jersey-based tattoo artist Matt Doherty told the WSJ. "Its like doing sports on steroids."Cardinal SignAs Doherty points out, image generators often build from or rip off, depending on who you ask publicly posted work from other artists, which seems to be as frowned upon in the tattoo world as it is among other artistic mediums.To test it out, thisFuturism reporter fed CoCreate's free tattoo image generator a prompt similar to one of her own, very real tattoos: "a red cardinal with dogwood flowers," which both symbolize her home state, North Carolina.The output admittedly turned out alright, though it came with the word "imagine" emblazoned underneath it for some reason. Ultimately, it looks far more uncanny and, yes, soulless than the real thing.Images via CoCreate/Futurism (left) and the author (right).For a design as simple as the aforementioned, using AI to draft up ideas could work in a technical sense. But for others, like one AI mockup brought into the Toronto tattoo studio where interviewee Matthew Hatch works, AI imagery just wouldn't translate well into ink on skin.Hatch told theWSJ that someone came in recently with an AI-generated image of galaxies in space. The 27-year-old artist said that if had ended up being tattooed on the person who brought it in, it would have just looked like a bruise."There are limitations on what is possible," Hatch remarked.With anything as personal as tattoos, there are invariably going to be emotional responses to new technology that can change the game.But if you're going to get something imprinted on your skin for life, itcertainly feels like a questionable choice to resort to AI.More on AI and tattooing: What's Up With Those Sloppy AI-Generated Tattoo Posters in New York City?Share This Article

SpaceX's Dragon is flexing its muscles.Big PushSpaceX is planning to fire the engines of its Dragon cargo spacecraft this week, which is currently docked to the International Space Station, to practice for the eventual retirement of the orbital lab roughly six years from now.As Space.com reports, it's the first time a SpaceX capsule has fired its thrusters while actively docked to "reboost" the ISS, or keeping it in a stable orbit, a task that historically has been taken care of by Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.In addition to keeping the space station at the correct altitude, SpaceX and NASA are using the opportunity to collect data for their joint plans to destroy the ISS.NASA contracted the Elon Musk-led space company in June to develop a "US Doerbit Vehicle," as part of an effort to destroy the ISS no sooner than 2030. Broadly speaking, the plan is to push it out of orbit, have it reenter the Earth's atmosphere, and harmlessly plunge into the ocean.To prepare for the daring stunt, SpaceX is flexing its muscles by taking over the task of "reboosting" the ISS."The data that we're going to collect from this reboost and attitude control demonstration will be very helpful... and this data is going to lead to future capability, mainly the US deorbit vehicle," SpaceX director of flight reliability Jared Metter told reporters on Monday, as quoted by Space.com.Dragon DestroyerSpaceX is planning to use a beefed-up Dragon cargo spacecraft to give the aging orbital lab, a 900,000-pound and 358-foot behemoth, a massive push.The capsule is expected to feature 46 Drago thrusters, as compared to just 18 for the cargo variant, along with an "enhanced trunk section that will host propellant tanks, engines, avionics, power generation and thermal hardware tailored to complete this mission," as SpaceX Dragon mission management director Sarah Walker told reporters in July.For now, SpaceX's current Dragon cargo capsule is following the footsteps of Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo spacecraft, which was successfully used to "reboost" the ISS back in 2022 as part of a similar test.The spacecraft has been used to send supplies to the ISS since 2012. Earlier this week, SpaceX completed NASA's 31st SpaceX resupply mission.Now that US-Russia relations have hit new lows following the invasion of Ukraine, NASA is clearly looking for alternative ways to keep the space station in orbit.Russia has vowed to abandon the ISS no sooner than 2028, which could leave the space agency in a difficult position without the Soyuz in the picture.But thanks to SpaceX's alternative, the space station's days aren't numbered just yet or at least not before 2030.More on the ISS: Boeing Reportedly Looking to Sell Off Its Disastrous Starliner SpacecraftShare This Article

Nov 08, 2024Ravie LakshmananCyber Espionage / Threat IntelligenceHigh-profile entities in India have become the target of malicious campaigns orchestrated by the Pakistan-based Transparent Tribe threat actor and a previously unknown China-nexus cyber espionage group dubbed IcePeony.The intrusions linked to Transparent Tribe involve the use of a malware called ElizaRAT and a new stealer payload dubbed ApoloStealer on specific victims of interest, Check Point said in a technical write-up published this week."ElizaRAT samples indicate a systematic abuse of cloud-based services, including Telegram, Google Drive, and Slack, to facilitate command-and-control communications," the Israeli company said.ElizaRAT is a Windows remote access tool (RAT) that Transparent Tribe was first observed using in July 2023 as part of cyber attacks targeting Indian government sectors. Active since at least 2013, the adversary is also tracked under the names APT36, Datebug, Earth Karkaddan, Mythic Leopard, Operation C-Major, and PROJECTM.Its malware arsenal includes tools for compromising Windows, Android, and Linux devices. The increased targeting of Linux machines is motivated by the Indian government's use of a custom Ubuntu fork called Maya OS since last year.Infection chains are initiated by Control Panel (CPL) files likely distributed via spear-phishing techniques. As many as three distinct campaigns employing the RAT have been observed between December 2023 and August 2024, each using Slack, Google Drive, and a virtual private server (VPS) for command-and-control (C2).While ElizaRAT enables the attackers to exert complete control over the targeted endpoint, ApoloStealer is designed to gather files matching several extensions (e.g., DOC, XLS, PPT, TXT, RTF, ZIP, RAR, JPG, and PNG) from the compromised host and exfiltrate them to a remote server.In January 2024, the threat actor is said to have tweaked the modus operandi to include a dropper component that ensures the smooth functioning of ElizaRAT. Also observed in recent attacks is an additional stealer module codenamed ConnectX that's engineered to search for files from external drives, such as USBs.The abuse of legitimate services widely used in enterprise environments heightens the threat as it complicates detection efforts and allows threat actors to blend into legitimate activities on the system."The progression of ElizaRAT reflects APT36's deliberate efforts to enhance their malware to better evade detection and effectively target Indian entities," Check Point said. "Introducing new payloads such as ApoloStealer marks a significant expansion of APT36's malware arsenal and suggests the group is adopting a more flexible, modular approach to payload deployment."IcePeony Goes After India, Mauritius, and VietnamThe disclosure comes weeks after the nao_sec research team revealed that an advanced persistent threat (APT) group it calls IcePeony has targeted government agencies, academic institutions, and political organizations in countries such as India, Mauritius, and Vietnam since at least 2023."Their attacks typically start with SQL Injection, followed by compromise via web shells and backdoors," security researchers Rintaro Koike and Shota Nakajima said. "Ultimately, they aim to steal credentials."One of the most noteworthy tools in its malware portfolio is IceCache, which is designed to target Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) instances. An ELF binary written in the Go programming language, it's a custom version of the reGeorg web shell with added file transmission and command execution features.The attacks are also characterized by the use of a unique passive-mode backdoor referred to as IceEvent that comes with capabilities to upload/download files and execute commands."It seems that the attackers work six days a week," the researchers noted. "While they are less active on Fridays and Saturdays, their only full day off appears to be Sunday. This investigation suggests that the attackers are not conducting these attacks as personal activities, but are instead engaging in them as part of organized, professional operations."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Nov 08, 2024Ravie LakshmananVulnerability / Network SecurityThe U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Thursday added a now-patched critical security flaw impacting Palo Alto Networks Expedition to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, citing evidence of active exploitation.The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-5910 (CVSS score: 9.3), concerns a case of missing authentication in the Expedition migration tool that could lead to an admin account takeover."Palo Alto Expedition contains a missing authentication vulnerability that allows an attacker with network access to takeover an Expedition admin account and potentially access configuration secrets, credentials, and other data," CISA said in an alert.The shortcoming impacts all versions of Expedition prior to version 1.2.92, which was released in July 2024 to plug the problem.There are currently no reports on how the vulnerability is being weaponized in real-world attacks, but Palo Alto Networks has since revised its original advisory to acknowledge that it's "aware of reports from CISA that there is evidence of active exploitation."Also added to the KEV catalog are two other flaws, including a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Android Framework component (CVE-2024-43093) that Google disclosed this week as having come under "limited, targeted exploitation."The other security defect is CVE-2024-51567 (CVSS score: 10.0), a critical flaw affecting CyberPanel that allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute commands as root. The issue has been resolved in version 2.3.8.In late October 2023, it emerged that the vulnerability was being exploited en masse by malicious actors to deploy PSAUX ransomware on more than 22,000 internet-exposed CyberPanel instances, according to LeakIX and a security researcher who goes by the online alias Gi7w0rm.LeakIX also noted that three distinct ransomware groups have quickly capitalized on the vulnerability, with files encrypted multiple times in some cases.Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies have been recommended to remediate the identified vulnerabilities by November 28, 2024, to secure their networks against active threats.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Time zones: GMT (UTC +0), CET (UTC +1), EET (UTC +2), MSK (UTC +3), CEST (UTC +2), BST (UTC +1), IST (UTC +5:30), UZT (UTC +5), IRDT (UTC +4:30), GST (UTC +4)Job Title: Head of Social Media & Brand Management for Brook HiddinkLocation: Remote, Europe/Middle East/Africa ONLYCompensation: $2000-$5000/month depending on experience plus performance-based bonusesMy accounts:https://www.instagram.com/ecomwithbrook/?hl=enhttps://www.tiktok.com/@brookhiddinkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnuHng28tVdcfK97ypEM-cQhttps://x.com/ecomwithbrook?lang=enAbout the RoleWe're looking for a talented and experienced Head of Social Media & Brand Management to lead the growth and development of my online presence across multiple platforms. Youll have the unique opportunity to work directly with me, shaping the brand, engaging our audience, and delivering high-quality, engaging content.This role requires a blend of strategic thinking, creative vision, and hands-on execution, with a strong focus on brand consistency and performance tracking.Key Responsibilities:Content Strategy & Ideation: Develop a creative, impactful content strategy aligned with my brand vision, constantly generating fresh ideas that resonate with the audience.Brand Image Management: Ensure a cohesive, polished brand image across all platforms, aligning visual style and messaging with my personal and professional ethos.Multi-Platform Posting & Engagement: Take charge of all posting activities across various social media platforms, with a tailored approach to each platforms audience and algorithms.Performance Tracking & Optimization: Set KPIs, track performance metrics, and continuously adjust strategies to meet engagement and growth goals.Collaboration & Feedback: Work closely with me to capture my voice and preferences, incorporating feedback to refine and elevate content.Industry Trends & Insights: Stay on top of social media trends, platform updates, and best practices to keep the brand relevant and ahead of the curve.Qualifications:Experience: Proven track record in social media management for high-profile individuals or brands.Creativity & Vision: An eye for design, style, and compelling storytelling that aligns with luxury and high-value aesthetics.Organized & Detail-Oriented: Ability to manage multiple platforms, projects, and deadlines without compromising quality.Analytical Mindset: Proficient in social media analytics, capable of making data-driven decisions to optimize performance.Strong Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a natural flair for presenting content that feels both genuine and polished.Why Join?This role is ideal for someone who wants a high level of creative freedom, direct collaboration with a seasoned entrepreneur, and the chance to shape a brand with significant impact. If you're a driven, innovative, and detail-oriented social media expert ready to make your mark, lets connect!To be considered for this role, please:Submit a virtual interview on this page and submit your resume.This is a FULL TIME ROLE. I am NOT looking for consulting or a part-time hire.You will ONLY be considered if you complete the Willo application.1. Submit Your SMM PortfolioThe set of questions in the video application for your reference:2. Submit Your Resume (CV)3. Tell me about you!4. What experience do you have in Social Media/Personal Branding? Have you managed someone's profile before? How familiar are you with eCommerce & business content?5. What are your strengths as a person & Social Media manager?6. Would you consider yourself "organized"? Why, or why not? How does this reflect in your work?7. Why do you feel that you are a fit for this position? What is your motivation to join?8. Anything else that you would like me to know / any concerns you have?9. Do you have a job right now? If yes, what is the job and how much time per day does it take up? If not, what do you do with your free time and why do you not have a job?10. Go to my Instagram @ecomwithbrook, and tell me 1 thing you would do to improve my profile. Focus on impactful changes.SUBMIT APPLICATION HERE:

Hello!Anthony here from Leadroll.io.Were searching for a high-energy, operations-savvy individual to join us as our new Operations Manager. Our team is on a mission to revolutionize lead generation through smart, seamless solutions, and were looking for someone to keep all parts of our machine running smoothly. As an early team member, youll play a foundational role in building the infrastructure that will enable our rapid growth and keep us innovating at the forefront of affiliate marketing.Over the years, running paid media to grab attention has become our true talent & passion. Our mission is to help grow businesses in a variety of industries that weve done tremendously well in over the last 5 years. This includes but is not limited to; Home Services, Health Insurance, and more. If you have experience in the affiliate world, thats a huge bonus but not required. Ready to become a key player at our company? Lets dive inWHAT YOULL DO (Core Scope of Your Role)Communication Hub: Be the central touchpoint between clients, partners, and team members. You'll ensure that everyones on the same page, from developers to media buyers, guaranteeing our campaigns operate seamlessly across all verticals.Performance Management: Track and optimize our teams daily tasks, overseeing performance and stepping in to ensure deadlines and quality standards are consistently met.Operations Supervision: Lead and manage our team, handle report generation, and manage finances. Youll serve as the core function that aligns finances, operations, and marketing, keeping our entire system on track.Technical Excellence: While its not required, bonus points if you bring technical know-how in affiliate marketing and lead generation. Familiarity with call-tracking platforms like Ringba, Retreaver, and Redtrackor experience setting up ping-post campaignswould put you ahead of the game.OUR GOALS FOR THIS ROLEStreamlined Operations: Youll lay down systems that connect the dots across our team, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.Enhanced Reporting & Performance Metrics: Create robust, reliable methods for tracking our teams progress, financials, and operational efficiency.Seamless Communication Across Departments: Work alongside developers, media buyers, and client managers to ensure clarity and cohesion in all ongoing projects.Lead Gen Technical Insight: While its a bonus, any technical expertise you bring will be invaluable in helping us enhance our systems and stay at the cutting edge of affiliate marketing.A LITTLE ABOUT YOUYoure highly organized and proactive, able to balance big-picture thinking with close attention to detail.You have exceptional communication skills and can simplify complex issues into actionable steps for the team.Experience with affiliate marketing, lead generation, or digital marketing operations is a big plus. Youre familiar with tracking platforms, or have worked on call-tracking and ping-post setups.Youre comfortable working in a fast-paced environments and look forward to taking on new challenges every day.Bonus if you have advertising experience to help us keep our budgets optimized and in line with our growth targets.WHAT WE OFFER (The Good Stuff)Competitive Pay & Perks: We offer competitive compensation for the right talent.Growth Opportunity: Be part of an early-stage team with the chance to expand your role & earning potential. This role has the potential to evolve into a full-time position with equity opportunities.Flexible & Remote: Were fully remote, allowing you the freedom to work from wherever suits you best.Impactful Role: This isnt just a job; its a chance to be part of something big, where your work will have a direct and significant impact.When applying, include a quick 1-2 minute video with your application introducing yourself and telling us why working with us at Leadroll.io excites you. Wed love to see your personality and hear your unique perspective on what you bring to the role.Please only apply if you have ample experience. We unfortunately cannot take on applicants with 0 experience. You'll be working with world class advertisers in a fast paced environment and learning a tremendous amount as we all grow together. We want to know why you want to be the heartbeat of our operations here at Leadroll.io. Apply by emailing [emailprotected] with "leads for days" in the subject line. Resume is optional. Showing us how you will move the needle is required.Looking forward to connecting with someone special soon (maybe you?).Best,Anthony & the Leadroll.io Team

Learn Go With This ONE Project

Source: Haze VisSource: Haze VisSource: Haze VisSource: Haze VisSource: Haze VisSource: Haze Vis1/6show captionArchitectural practice GPAD has submitted planning for the restoration and modernisation of a 1917 Neo-Baroque building on Colmore Row, Birmingham.In partnership with Marlborough Property Company and V7, the proposal aims to preserve and enhance the historic structure within the Colmore and Environs Conservation Area as part of the Snow Hill Masterplan. The project aims to deliver a sustainable office retrofit that respects Birminghams architectural heritage while prioritising occupant well-being.78-90 Colmore Row was built between 1915 and 1917, designed by the architectural firm Ewan Harper & Brother & Co.The Portland stone exterior will undergo a light refurbishment to retain its character, while a fifth-floor zinc-clad extension steps back from the faade, minimising its visual impact. Additional changes include replacing existing mansard walls with textured Portland stone to harmonise with nearby historic buildings, including the Grade I listed St. Philips Cathedral.The design also incorporates a 2,700 sq. ft landscaped roof terrace and a ground-floor business lounge, with views over Cathedral Square. Accessibility improvements focus on a more prominent corner entrance.Source: Haze VisThe interior, influenced by nineteenth and twentieth-century design, will feature local cultural references and colours drawn from a palette by Birmingham artist Stacey Barnfield.Sustainability targets include LETI B minimum for upfront embodied carbon, BREEAM Excellent status, NABERS 4.5*, and an EPC B rating. Smart technology and renewable energy solutions are integrated to support AirRated Platinum and WELL certifications, as well as a 10% biodiversity net gain.Zak Veasey, director at V7, commented on the collaborative approach: The team we have appointed to design and rebuild 90 Colmore Row is a diverse senior team fully committed to our vision for the project People the reason I love what I do in Real Estate!A local practiceEwen & J. Alfred Harper, also known as Ewen Harper, Brother & Co., was an architectural partnership established in Birmingham in 1897 by Ewen Harper (1853-1920) and his brother, James Alfred Henry Harper (1866-1952). The Harper brothers, dedicated Methodists, designed a significant number of non-conformist churches, along with a variety of commercial, industrial, public, and residential buildings, primarily in the Birmingham area. One of their notable works includes the Methodist Central Hall in Birmingham, completed in 1903.Ewen Harper retired in 1919, and his son, Leonard Ewen Harper (1886-1954), joined the practice, which continued as Ewen Harper, Brother & Co. until 1937.

Spectrum and Metronet fiber are top broadband picks in Fayetteville, but there are more options to consider. Here are the best ISPs in the area.

Switching to solar panels can significantly reduce your utility bills and shrink your carbon footprint. However, price tags in the tens of thousands of dollars can be a nonstarter for many homeowners. On the other hand, going solar could be a game changer -- especially considering the average electric bill in Illinois went up by 28% from June 2023 to June 2024. These numbers will fluctuate with the ever-changing cost of energy, but going solar can also bring some consistency when it comes to your monthly bills.In Illinois, as in the rest of the country, residents benefit from the federal tax credi established by the Inflation Reduction Act, covering up to 30% of solar installation costs come tax season. But in the Land of Lincoln, there are also state programs that offer major help.One, Illinois Shines, provides upfront funding for household solar panels through the purchase of renewable energy credits. Another, Illinois Solar for All, pays for folks who meet lower-income requirements to install solar panels with no up-front cost, according toVito Greco, director of solar programs at the clean energy advocacy group Elevate, which administers the program. Can solar panels save you money? Interested in understanding the impact solar can have on your home? Enter some basic information below, and well instantly provide a free estimate of your energy savings. Here's what you need to know about Illinois solar incentives and how to choose the best installer.Best national solar panel companies in IllinoisThere are 373 solar companies operating in Illinois, including 114 installers and developers, according todatafrom the Solar Energy Industries Association. So which one do you choose?If you're receiving state incentives, you'll need to choose one of the approved vendors ofIllinois ShinesorIllinois Solar for All, whichever program you're using. Get quotes from multiple installers, and check reviews and do other research to make sure you're getting the best deal from a reputable company. Here are a few from our research andour list of best solar companies. Palmetto Solar Best overall Read full review Solar panels are typically low maintenance equipment, but they're also unfamiliar. If you want to reap the benefits of solar but will have a bit more peace of mind if someone else is making sure it's working, Palmetto might be a good fit for you. Just remember to add the cost of Palmetto's monitoring service in to your payback period calculations. Equipment 9.3 / 10 Warranty 6 / 10 Service 10 / 10 Pros and Cons Pros Options for after-installation supportTop-of-line equipmentFinancing marketplace Cons Some warranties could be strongerNo consistent price match policy Areas served Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia Product details Palmetto Solar has more robust service for after installation than most other companies, though it might cost you a bit. All customers receive third-party monitoring and proactive communication when some part of their solar system malfunctions. Palmetto also receives an A-plus from the Better Business Bureau. Palmetto offers quality solar equipment and is one of the few companies that offers Sonnen's batteries. Palmetto's workmanship warranty is 10 years and its weatherization warranty is 5 years. Show more details Freedom Forever Best for cash customers Read full review Include Freedom Forever in your search if you want the backing of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends a couple of products that take some of the pain and risk out of going solar, like a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low of late, though the company says that's changing. Equipment 9.3 / 10 Warranty 7 / 10 Service 5 / 10 Pros and Cons Pros Production guaranteePrice-match guaranteeCash escrow option Cons Customer service concernsSome warranties are longer elsewhere Areas served Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., Wisconsin Product details Freedom Forever, one of the largest American solar installers, installs some of the most popular residential equipment. It offers a production guarantee and an uncommon cash escrow option is a welcome step toward a less stressful process. Freedom Forever has had customer service issues, with complaints of paying for a nonfunctional system while dealing with poor communication and long waits. Some recent customers have had flawless experiences, but those reviews appear alongside many more negative ones. The company says things have turned around after a bad stretch, but its worth monitoring. Show more details Tesla Solar Most affordable Read full review Tesla's solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk's ventures. Even Tesla's Solar Roof seems to get more love. If price is the thing you won't budge on, consider Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing there is to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall. Where you might miss out is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest Tesla's service is a bit of a gamble. Equipment 7.3 / 10 Warranty 6.5 / 10 Service 8 / 10 Pros and Cons Pros Low prices and a price-match guaranteeQuality equipmentLower-profile panels Cons Anecdotally, customer service can be poorFewer equipment options Areas served All 50 states Product details Solar panels from Tesla are likely to be the cheapest option where they are available. You can save thousands of dollars, without sacrificing on quality of equipment or the warranties that protect it. What you might sacrifice is customer service. From delays to price changes, to slow responses, to system malfunctions, social media reports of negative experiences aren't hard to find, including some who regret their choice. This is true of all solar companies, but the quantity of reports concerning Tesla is concerning. Show more details EnergyPal Most versatile Read full review EnergyPal is more than just a middleman. It'll handle your solar installation from beginning to end while also allowing you to benefit from its proprietary engine and competitive bidding process. The company offers a range of hardware for panels, batteries and inverters, has plentiful financing options and offers responsive customer service support. Equipment 8.7 / 10 Warranty 6.5 / 10 Service 7 / 10 Pros and Cons Pros Certified and vetted local network of installers and partnersLots of hardware choices for panels, batteries and invertersCompetitive pricing and bidding processResponsive customer service support Cons Warranties can vary by brand or productDoesn't handle the installation itself Areas served Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin Product details EnergyPal is both a marketplace and an energy advisor. It uses its proprietary quote builder engine to customize your solar system; then it'll contract with a local company and act as your single point of contact for everything from installation to permitting. Hardware options include solar panels, batteries and inverters from QCells, REC, Silfab, Aptos, Tesla, Enphase, SolarEdge and FranklinWH. You can expect a workmanship guarantee of 5-10 years, with manufacturer warranties of up to 30 years depending on the hardware. No weatherization warranty is offered. Customers can also take advantage of third-party monitoring tools, from Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla and others. While EnergyPal isn't rated by the BBB, it receives positive customer reviews online and scores a 4.7 on Trustpilot. Show more details Local solar panel companies in Illinois Nelnet Renewable Energy Nelnet Renewable Energy offers solar installations for pitched roofs, flat roofs and ground-mounted solar. It also offers Tesla Powerwall installations. The company offers financing options, as well as leasing and power purchase agreements.