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 |
|---|---|---|
| Makivik | · Feb 11, 2026 | — |
| Northbridge | · Feb 11, 2026 | — |
| Milwaukee Forge | · Feb 10, 2026 | — |
| Carlton Scale | · Feb 7, 2026 | — |
| De Gruyter Brill | · Feb 7, 2026 | — |
| ESS Metron | · Feb 7, 2026 | — |
| Ilderton Contracting | · Feb 7, 2026 | — |
| Bloom's Bus Lines | · Feb 7, 2026 | — |
| RAL Companies | · Feb 7, 2026 | — |
| KaiserAir | · Feb 7, 2026 | — |
| ISTS | · Feb 4, 2026 | — |
| CBH Homes | · Feb 4, 2026 | — |
| Woodfield | · Feb 4, 2026 | — |
| Deatak | · Feb 1, 2026 | — |
| Bar S Services | · Jan 31, 2026 | — |
| NAI Plotkin | · Jan 31, 2026 | — |
| Transaction Packing | · Jan 31, 2026 | — |
| Tele Plus | · Jan 26, 2026 | — |
| F&B Mfg | · Jan 26, 2026 | — |
| The Sourcing Group | · Jan 26, 2026 | — |
| ALLMAX | · Jan 26, 2026 | — |
| Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies | · Jan 26, 2026 | — |
| Aquatic Control | · Jan 26, 2026 | — |
| Christine London | · Jan 26, 2026 | — |
| Routten & Laster Law | · Jan 26, 2026 | — |
| Joyva | · Jan 26, 2026 | — |
| TREC Group | · Jan 23, 2026 | — |
| Encore Roofing | · Jan 23, 2026 | — |
| California Tax Data | · Jan 22, 2026 | — |
| CE Electronics | · Jan 21, 2026 | — |
| Cemtech | · Jan 21, 2026 | — |
| Midway Windows and Doors | · Jan 21, 2026 | — |
| Release Marine | · Jan 20, 2026 | — |
| Raymundos Food Group | · Jan 20, 2026 | — |
| Riverwood Golf Club | · Jan 20, 2026 | — |
| Eastern Ice | · Jan 20, 2026 | — |
| Launie & Marino | · Jan 12, 2026 | — |
| Denny's 5th Avenue Bakery | · Jan 12, 2026 | — |
| WiZiX Technology Group | · Jan 12, 2026 | — |
| Autohaus Pichel GmbH | · Jan 6, 2026 | — |
| Due Doyle Fanning | · Jan 6, 2026 | — |
| Mill Brothers | · Jan 6, 2026 | — |
| Lakeside Title Company | · Jan 2, 2026 | — |
| Wardell Builders | · Jan 2, 2026 | — |
| Garner Foods | · Jan 2, 2026 | — |
| Pewarchuk CPA | · Jan 2, 2026 | — |
| Benise-Dowling & Associates | · Jan 2, 2026 | — |
| Rockport Technology Group | · Jan 2, 2026 | — |
| Stoughton Steel | · Jan 2, 2026 | — |
| Infinite Computing Systems | · Dec 31, 2025 | — |
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