The work is the culmination of seven years worth of research into the security of firmware.

Many modern computers are vulnerable to a number of security flaws that could exploit a machine’s Thunderbolt connection to its network cards, keyboard, computer charger or other peripheral devices.

The $15,000 price bump is likely a result of higher demand.

A critical security flaw in Intel processors will require an overhaul of operating system kernels after research found that decades worth of chips could be impacted by the vulnerability.

"These vulnerabilities are the most serious Bluetooth vulnerabilities identified to date," Armis researchers explained.

The CIA hacking tools called Gyrfalcon and BothanSpy, as described in documents released by anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, are "effective, but surprisingly unsophisticated," according to Tatu Ylonen.