Storage speeds will also jump from 16 Gb/s to 32, making Thunderbolt 4 a godsend for video editors or anyone else moving gigantic files around. Intel is also bumping up security by requiring its VT-d virtualization technology that protects against Direct Memory Access, or DMA, attacks. That includes the recent Thunderspy vulnerability, a complex hack that could allow someone to steal your data, even if your system was locked and had encrypted storage. Every major OS already supports VT-d DMA protection as of last year, but since that security tech is fairly recent, Intel tells us it couldn’t require it when Thunderbolt 3 launched.

So what does all of this mean for you? Probably not much if you’re just browsing the web and not really pushing your PC much. But if you’re the sort of user who regularly connects your notebook to multiple screens, or juggles vast amounts of data, Thunderbolt 4 could make your life a lot easier. Intel is debuting the technology this fall alongside its Tiger Lake chips, which are expected to be powerful in their own right. 

You can also look forward to a few other nice bonuses with Thunderbolt 4: Intel is requiring USB-C charging on at least one port, as well as the ability to wake up your PC when it’s connected to a dock. Those accessories will also be able to support up to four Thunderbolt ports, which should make it easier to string together all sorts of gadgets to your desk-bound laptop. 

Thunderbolt 4 also supports the upcoming USB-4 standard, which helps to future-proof it a bit. Confusingly enough, USB-4 shares most of the features of Thunderbolt 3 — and don’t forget, they all rely on the same USB-C port. If you’re not paying close attention to the specs of your next PC, it may also be tough to tell if it supports Thunderbolt 4 or 3. You’ll likely only see the small lightning logo on most PCs, with no visible version number, according to Intel.

It’s a shame that after spending years developing an intriguing new protocol, something that could genuinely help consumers, Intel may stumble a bit when it comes to communication. I know plenty of techies who still have trouble dealing with the different types of USB-C ports on their systems. Thunderbolt 4 may just well lead to more confusion.

Still, there’s a lot to look forward to, especially if you push your PC more than most. And maybe, these improvements will lead to more computer makers adopting Thunderbolt. Microsoft has infamously avoided the technology on its Surface machines, which are otherwise some of the best PCs you can buy today. Maybe one day, we’ll finally get a Thunderbolt-equipped version of a Surface tablet that can be powered by an external GPU.

However, Ruytenberg’s attack method could get around even those settings by changing the firmware that controls the Thunderbolt port, allowing any device to access it. What’s more, the hack leaves no trace, so the user would never know their PC was altered.

If you intend to use Thunderbolt connectivity, we strongly recommend to: Connect only your own Thunderbolt peripherals; never lend them to anybody; avoid leaving your system unattended while powered on, even when screenlocked; avoid leaving your Thunderbolt peripherals unattended; ensure appropriate physical security when storing your system and any Thunderbolt devices, including Thunderbolt-powered displays; consider using hibernation (Suspend-to-Disk) or powering off the system completely. Specifically, avoid using sleep mode (Suspend-to-RAM).

He developed something called an “evil maid attack” in reference to an attacker who gets physical access to a PC in a hotel room, for instance. “All the evil maid needs to do is unscrew the backplate, attach a device momentarily, reprogram the firmware, reattach the backplate, and the evil maid gets full access to the laptop,” Ruytenberg told Wired. “All of this can be done in under five minutes.”

The attack only requires about $400 worth of gear, including an SPI programmer and $200 Thunderbolt peripheral. The whole thing could be built into a single small device. “Three-letter agencies would have no problem miniaturizing this,” Ruytenberg said.

Intel recently created a Thunderbolt security system called Kernel Direct Memory Access Protection that would stop Ruytenberg’s Thunderspy attack. However, that protection is only available on computers made in 2019 and later, so it’s lacking in any models manufactured prior to that. In addition, many PCs manufactured in 2019 and later from Dell, HP and Lenovo aren’t protected, either. This vulnerability might explain why Microsoft didn’t include Thunderbolt in its Surface laptops.

Apple computers running macOS are unaffected by the vulnerability unless you’re running Boot Camp, according to Ruytenberg.

The researchers disclosed the vulnerabilities to Intel on February 10th, 2020, and to Apple on April 17th. To find out if you’re vulnerable, they created a verification tool called Spycheck. To protect yourself, you should “avoid leaving your system unattended while powered on, even if screenlocked,” Ruytenberg wrote, avoid using sleep mode and ensure the physical security of your Thunderbolt peripherals.

If you were expecting a major revision beyond that, though, you’ll be slightly disappointed. It’s otherwise near-identical to the old UltraFine 5K with the familiar P3 color gamut, 500-nit brightness and a 94W power output through either the lone Thunderbolt 3 port or three USB-C ports. A built-in camera and speakers will help you focus on the larger screen for you video chats.

The similarity extends to the price. You’ll be paying the same $1,300 through the Apple Store as you did when the UltraFine 5K was new. This is primarily for pros who insist on an Apple-oriented monitor and want something between the smaller UltraFine 4K and the extremely high-end Pro Display XDR. If you just want a screen for everyday productivity and the occasional Netflix marathon, there are other options.

It was just last week when we heard that the 20Gbps USB 3.2 connectivity may show up on new devices later this year, but today, Intel is already talking about an even speedier USB4. At a Taipei event earlier today, the company revealed that this next-gen spec will once again utilize dual channels to achieve 40Gbps speeds, even on existing 40Gbps-certified USB-C cables.

Better yet, thanks to Intel finally offering Thunderbolt 3 to manufacturers with open licensing, USB4 will be integrating this tech and thus effectively becoming the “new” Thunderbolt 3. In other words, USB4 will pretty much be the mother of all wired connectivity options, and will be ready for more powerful PCIe plus DisplayPort devices.