The program, dubbed Project Hood, is part of an effort by both companies to expand their use of virtualization technology, or using software to replicate entire computer systems.

They are developing software security "appliances" that would work with virtualization technology that Intel is already incorporating into its computer chips, Trollope said.

Appliances are specialized computers that handle tasks such as storing data, streaming music or securing a network.

Instead of designing the security software to run on Microsoft's Windows or another operating system, Symantec and Intel are building it so it can directly interact with the Intel chips.

"It runs underneath and alongside the operating system," Trollope said.

The companies are developing the products for use on servers and business desktop computers, though they may eventually expand the effort to consumer PCs, he said.