Symantec, Intel develop software security on chips

Symantec Corp. VP Rowan Trollope announced that it has once again partnered with Intel Corp to develop security products to be built into tiny computer microprocessors, according to a Reuters report.

Dubbed the Project Hood program, the collaboration is part of the companies' effort to expand their use of virtualisation technology, or using software to replicate computer systems.

Trollope disclosed that both companies are developing software security "appliances" that would work with virtualisation technology and that Intel is already incorporating into its computer chips. Appliances are specialised computers, which handle storing data, streaming music or securing a network, the report said.

He explained that the security software they are building runs underneath and alongside the OS so it can directly interact with the Intel chips.

The products are intended for use on servers and business desktop computers, and may eventually to consumer PCs, he added.