Launching its own initiative to thwart hackers, Intel Corp. on Monday unveiled a new security initiative, code-named LaGrande Technology, that it will integrate into future processors and chip sets to stymie efforts to steal data.

While many computer users rely on data encryption to protect information transmitted over the Internet or via phone lines, such forms of protection offer little, if any, security against covertly embedded applications often used by hackers to gain access to data stored on a PC.

For example, a common type of program used by hackers monitors keyboard strokes, enabling third parties to read what information has been typed into the PC, such as passwords. Other programs can secretly take virtual snapshots of data on computer screens, or even stored in memory.

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