Intel has introduced its first desktop processors to support what it calls Execute Disable Bit (EDB) technology - essentially the same code-disabling technology found in AMD, Transmeta and other CPUs, and used by Windows XP Service Pack 2 to render some viruses ineffective.
Processors that make use of EDB technology have the letter "J" tagged onto the end of their name. All newly fabricated Socket T Pentium 4"s, from 520 to 560 will contain the new security technology. Intel has also released a few EDB enabled Celeron and Pentium M processors to round off their new lineup.
Execute Disable Bit allows the processor to classify areas in memory by where application code can execute and where it cannot. When a malicious worm attempts to insert code in the buffer, the processor disables code execution, preventing damage or worm propagation.