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 |
|---|---|---|
| usCalibration | · Mar 25, 2025 | — |
| B&C Industries | · Mar 25, 2025 | — |
| Kimco Steel | · Mar 25, 2025 | — |
| REOC San Antonio | · Mar 22, 2025 | — |
| Zaveta Custom Homes | · Mar 22, 2025 | — |
| Q railing | · Mar 19, 2025 | — |
| SL Tennessee Information | · Mar 13, 2025 | — |
| Backes | · Mar 13, 2025 | — |
| Best Cheer Stone | · Mar 13, 2025 | — |
| Jerue Companies | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Syma-System | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Compound Solutions | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| T J Machine & Tool | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Gevril | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Peak Season | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Yorke & Curtis | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Buckley BalaWilson Mew | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Holiday Comfort | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Clawson Honda | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Dectron | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Nor Arc | · Mar 9, 2025 | — |
| Pre Con Industries | · Mar 2, 2025 | — |
| IT-IQ Botswana | · Mar 2, 2025 | — |
| North American Fire Hose | · Mar 2, 2025 | — |
| Couri Insurance Agency | · Mar 2, 2025 | — |
| M&n Management | · Mar 2, 2025 | — |
| Optometrics | · Mar 2, 2025 | — |
| International Process Plants | · Mar 2, 2025 | — |
| Ganong Bros | · Mar 2, 2025 | — |
| 3cBSI | · Feb 26, 2025 | — |
| Finck Cigar | · Feb 26, 2025 | — |
| Story Environmental | · Feb 26, 2025 | — |
| Muller Insurance | · Feb 26, 2025 | — |
| Convert Solar | · Feb 25, 2025 | — |
| Radco Industries | · Feb 25, 2025 | — |
| Fairhaven Shipyard Companies | · Feb 25, 2025 | — |
| Island Realty | · Feb 25, 2025 | — |
| First Federal Savings & Loan | · Feb 25, 2025 | — |
| ALCOTT HR GROUP | · Feb 25, 2025 | — |
| Cuna Supply | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| The Townsley Law Firm Information | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| Bushmans | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| Inland Empire Distribution Systems, Inc. | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| Wylie Steel Fabricators | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| Oxford Companies | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| Stage 3 Separation | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| Transkid | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| Rheinischer Sch | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| Startek Peglar & Calcagni | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
| Weed Man Canada | · Feb 17, 2025 | — |
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