Inchworms

Inchworms were a type of advanced Wormnet virus that utilized the net's temporal distortion to violate causality.

The Wormnet, while vital in keeping galactic civilization connected, came with its fair share of woes. Due to the net's unique interactions with time, there were new ways to subvert system defenses. Inchworms were one such method, which perhaps leaned the heaviest into the potential of the new technology. Technically speaking, no inchworm attack has ever failed. When a system is attacked via inchworm, the effects of the attack occur before the attack itself does. The system begins to react as though viral code was trying to be executed, without any viral code being present. This prevents the virus from actually being fought off, as it does not exist yet. When the virus does arrive, the system has been thoroughly breached by the virus' effects, and success is guaranteed. If the effects are fought off however, then the virus never arrives. In this instance, when the would-be hacker actually does try to send the attack, their computer is instantly annihilated via time paradox. This effect also occurs if the hacker attempts to discover whether their attack was successful before sending the attack. Due to the risk of severe bodily harm being near such paradox-annihilation entails, only the very brave, the very foolish, or the very durable attempt Inchworm attacks.

Inchworms were popular with a number of more technophile groups, such as Bayes' Bastards, the Promeatheans, the Heartless, and the Servitors of Wormwood.

The original inventor of inchworms is unknown. Shortly after the first recorded inchworm attack, a document was sent far and wide across the Wormnet detailing their creation. Speculation abounds.

-Manifold Cloth