In Pictures: The 10 weirdest, wildest, most shocking security exploits ever

This ain't your momma's Internet

Update your browser. Ditch Java. Don't click weird links from even weirder people. Ho-hum. The basic tenets of PC security are burned into the brains of most Web surfers by now. The old malware tricks just don't work as well anymore.

Surprise! Bad guys are getting creative. (Never underestimate the oh-so-powerful combination of greed, boredom, and cleverness.) Rather than targeting Internet Explorer, now they're gunning for your virtual machine, your video games, and your Web-connected thermostat.

"The more digital our lives become, the greater the number of potential nontraditional entry points for cybercriminals attempting to steal data and wreak havoc," says McAfee Labs security strategist Toralv Dirro, who referred us to some of the wild exploits highlighted here.