play
ransomware group · aka Play, PlayCrypt, Water Curupira Pikapilya (Trend Micro tracking name) · unknown; widely assessed as likely Russia-based, though no confirmed attribution · active since 2022
Play (PlayCrypt) is a double-extortion ransomware group first publicly documented in 2022, known for a leak-first extortion model, distinctive ransom notes that omit ransom amounts and contact details, and encryption support for Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD. Victim sectors reported include government facilities, critical infrastructure, education facilities, information technology, healthcare/public health, financial services, and manufacturing, across North America, South America, and Europe. Per the FBI/CISA #StopRansomware advisory update (December 2024), Play had affected approximately 900 organizations worldwide, up from about 300 as of July 2023. The group gains access by exploiting known vulnerabilities in internet-facing appliances and remote-monitoring/management (RMM) software, supplemented by valid-account use. Dashboard tracking: 2 victims in the last 7/30/90 days, 2 total since 2026-09-09; last post 2026-09-09.
- Exploits known vulnerabilities in Fortinet devices for initial access (CVE-2018-13379, CVE-2020-12812, CVE-2020-15310) per FBI/CISA advisory (2024 update)
- Exploited SimpleHelp RMM path-traversal flaw CVE-2024-5776 as an access vector per FBI/CISA advisory (January 2025)
- Uses valid accounts, RDP, and RMM/remote-access tooling for lateral movement and persistence
- Living-off-the-land operations: GPO and scheduled-task deployment, disabling Microsoft Defender, use of batch/PowerShell tooling (FBI/CISA, 2023)
- Exfiltrates victim data before encryption; reported use of rsync for data transfer
- Double extortion via Tor-based 'Play News' leak site; ransom notes characteristically lack ransom amount and initial contact information
- Encrypts across Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD systems
Dallas County, Texas (2023; attribution via widely reported press coverage), Red Star Oil (leak-site post tracked by this dashboard, posted 2026-09-09), GT Distributors (leak-site post tracked by this dashboard, posted 2026-09-09)
No public figure.
Leak-site victims1,282 posts · newest first
| Victim | Discovered | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sys-kool | · 4d ago | — |
| Grunthal Welding & Supplies | · 4d ago | — |
| Red Star Oil | · 6d ago | — |
| GT Distributors | · 6d ago | — |
| MEQ | · 15d ago | — |
| Figgins Family Wine Estates | · 15d ago | — |
| KRC Machine Tool Solutions | · 15d ago | — |
| Meteor Group | · 15d ago | — |
| Be Media | · 26d ago | — |
| Latoplast | · 26d ago | — |
| Coltrane Systems | · 28d ago | — |
| Bridgeport Capital Services | · 28d ago | — |
| Sam Pack Auto Group | · 28d ago | — |
| Woodhaven Association | · 28d ago | — |
| MIE Solutions | · Aug 9, 2026 | — |
| Rilpa Enterprises | · Aug 9, 2026 | — |
| Marconi Industrial Services | · Aug 9, 2026 | — |
| Signature Services | · Aug 6, 2026 | — |
| GCATS Investments | · Aug 6, 2026 | — |
| Platinum Group | · Aug 6, 2026 | — |
| First Tek | · Aug 5, 2026 | — |
| Preferred Financial Group | · Aug 5, 2026 | — |
| The Butcher Brothers | · Aug 2, 2026 | — |
| Sigma Plastics Group | · Aug 2, 2026 | — |
| Cambridge Management | · Aug 2, 2026 | — |
| Record Go Alquiler | · Jul 23, 2026 | — |
| Restaurant Depot | · Jul 23, 2026 | — |
| The DeBruler | · Jul 23, 2026 | — |
| Tax MT | · Jul 22, 2026 | — |
| Kreysler & Associates | · Jul 22, 2026 | — |
| Boston Electric and Telephone | · Jul 16, 2026 | — |
| Wring Group | · Jul 16, 2026 | — |
| AG Scholtes | · Jul 16, 2026 | — |
| Andorra Life | · Jul 16, 2026 | — |
| Svensk Direktreklam | · Jul 16, 2026 | — |
| Preneed Funeral Programs | · Jul 7, 2026 | — |
| Kevin Bao Lenguyen | · Jul 7, 2026 | — |
| United Infrastructure | · Jul 7, 2026 | — |
| Locati Architects | · Jul 4, 2026 | — |
| Silvestri & Associates Insurance | · Jul 4, 2026 | — |
| Western Construction | · Jun 30, 2026 | — |
| J&J Gaming | · Jun 27, 2026 | — |
| Kuhnline | · Jun 27, 2026 | — |
| Benchmark Industrial Supply | · Jun 26, 2026 | — |
| Greg Crosslin | · Jun 17, 2026 | — |
| Integrated Technologies | · Jun 17, 2026 | — |
| eurOptimum | · Jun 17, 2026 | — |
| Mundt and Associates | · Jun 10, 2026 | — |
| Rainbow Distributors USA | · Jun 10, 2026 | — |
| Pearson Ford | · Jun 6, 2026 | — |
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