In a bizarre turn of virtual events, a group of hackers known as “The HEXperimentals” reportedly attempted an audacious infiltration of major data servers across the globe, only to find themselves inadvertently applying a level of cybersecurity that has left even expert cryptographers baffled. What began as a mischievous heist transformed into the biggest accidental boon for online security since grandmas discovered the power of the password-protected knitting club log.

The HEXperimentals had aimed to steal and commodify one of the internet’s most lucrative currencies: cat pictures. Little did they know that a typographical error in their code, possibly due to a particularly rambunctious pet cat of their own, resulted in the fortification of these digital furballs with what experts are now calling “Hacker-Proof Encryption Level Equals Totally Secured” (HPELETS).

The process, believed to be more secure than blockchain technology and more enigmatic than a mysterious slice of cheesecake appearing in the office break room, has left tech giants drooling over this unintentional innovation. Facebook, Google, and even your grandfather’s AOL email system are reportedly bidding for the rights to unravel this digital cat’s cradle of security.

For the first time in internet history, the adorable visages of cats dressed as old-timey royalty and kittens batting at yarn are now safeguarded from piracy and pixelated predation. Not only are these cuddly icons of the internet more secure than state secrets, but they are also the newfound treasures of online art connoisseurs, who believe that the encryption code has, quite possibly, added subliminal abstract whisker patterns that could rival a Van Gogh.

While cybersecurity specialists scramble to reverse-engineer this inadvertent marvel of digital safety, the hackers behind the gaffe have given a rare press statement. Displaying the classic unpredictability associated with their kind, they expressed shock and mild embarrassment that their attempt to “liberate” cat pictures resulted in unbreakable fortresses of feline fortitude instead.

“We just wanted to leave our mark on the digital world, maybe fetch a cute ransom or two,” confessed Heathcliff Byte, a leading member of the group. “But now, we’ve accidentally become heroes! We’ve unironically achieved the dream of every 90s movie hacker—except we didn’t get to slide around on office chairs or have a cool montage.”

The public response has ranged from delight to amusement, with many cat owners and internet users celebrating the accidental security boost for their beloved feline content. Internet commentators suggest that the HEXperimentals’ error might be the greatest cat-related mistake since the Egyptians decided to worship them.

For now, the world’s stockpile of cat memes and kitten gifs remains gloriously out of reach for would-be data thieves, thanks to the unintentional protectors of the world wide whisker network. As for the HEXperimentals, they’re ironically now considering pivoting into legitimate cybersecurity development, powered by a newfound respect for the robustness of happy accidents—and an infinite appreciation for the power of paws.