McAfee has unveiled a new hardware-assisted approach to computer security developed in collaboration with Intel it has dubbed DeepSAFE.

The system has been developed in response to the growth in advanced persistent threats and stealth attacks and the fact that hackers can evade current operating systems-based security, demanding a new paradigm – security beyond the operating system.

Todd Gebhart, co-president of McAfee, said, “McAfee DeepSAFE uses hardware features already in the Intel processors to provide security beyond the OS. From this unique vantage point, DeepSAFE can apply new techniques to deliver a whole new generation of protection in real time to prevent malicious activity and not just detect infections.”

The technology sits below the OS to detect stealth techniques such as rootkits that embed themselves deep in the OS to evade current security solutions.

According to McAfee Labs, more than 1,200 new rootkits per day are detected - equating to 50 per hour every single day. A system running the DeepSAFE technology was able to detect and stop a zero day Agony rootkit from infecting a system in real time.

This technology, which combines the features of existing Intel hardware and innovations in security software, is expected to launch in products later in 2011.