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 |
|---|---|---|
| CHARMANT Group | · Oct 4, 2023 | — |
| Stavanger Municipality | · Oct 4, 2023 | — |
| Jacobson | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| Robuck Homes | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| Webb Landscape | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| Amanzi Marble & Granite | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| BAMO | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| Van Eck Transport | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| Terralogic | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| Kessler Collins | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| Plumbase | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| Wexas | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| First Line | · Sep 18, 2023 | — |
| Rea Magnet Wire | · Sep 18, 2023 | — |
| RTA | · Sep 18, 2023 | — |
| TSC | · Sep 18, 2023 | — |
| PASCHAL - Werk G Maier | · Sep 18, 2023 | — |
| Vucke | · Sep 18, 2023 | — |
| Dpc & S | · Sep 13, 2023 | — |
| Carpet One | · Sep 13, 2023 | — |
| Markentrainer Werbeagentur, Elwema Automotive | · Sep 13, 2023 | — |
| Precisely, Winshuttle | · Sep 6, 2023 | — |
| Kikkerland Design | · Sep 6, 2023 | — |
| Markentrainer Werbeagentur | · Sep 6, 2023 | — |
| Master Interiors | · Sep 6, 2023 | — |
| Bordelon Marine | · Sep 6, 2023 | — |
| Majestic Spice | · Sep 6, 2023 | — |
| Firmdale Hotels | · Sep 5, 2023 | — |
| F??????? ?????s | · Sep 1, 2023 | — |
| Alfagomma, Argus Fluidhandling Ltd | · Aug 26, 2023 | — |
| A???? F??????????? Ltd | · Aug 23, 2023 | — |
| ABS Auto Auctions | · Aug 19, 2023 | — |
| DSA Law Pty Ltd | · Aug 19, 2023 | — |
| Miami Management | · Aug 19, 2023 | — |
| BTC Power | · Aug 19, 2023 | — |
| Stanford Transportation Inc | · Aug 19, 2023 | — |
| Bolton Group | · Aug 19, 2023 | — |
| Legends Limousine | · Aug 19, 2023 | — |
| Oneonline | · Aug 19, 2023 | — |
| Top Light | · Aug 11, 2023 | — |
| Algorry Zappia & Associates | · Aug 11, 2023 | — |
| EAI | · Aug 11, 2023 | — |
| Garage Living, The Dispenser USA | · Aug 1, 2023 | — |
| Aapd | · Aug 1, 2023 | — |
| Birch, Horton, Bittner & Cherot | · Aug 1, 2023 | — |
| DAL-TECH Engineering | · Aug 1, 2023 | — |
| Coral Resort | · Aug 1, 2023 | — |
| Professionnel France | · Aug 1, 2023 | — |
| ACTIVA Group | · Aug 1, 2023 | — |
| Aquatlantis | · Aug 1, 2023 | — |
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