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 |
|---|---|---|
| McCarter Electrical | · Sep 15, 2025 | — |
| Pathfinder | · Sep 15, 2025 | — |
| General Control Systems | · Sep 15, 2025 | — |
| RFI | · Sep 15, 2025 | — |
| Crestone Group | · Sep 15, 2025 | — |
| TerranearPMC | · Sep 15, 2025 | — |
| Rochester Optical | · Sep 15, 2025 | — |
| Baum Precision Machining | · Sep 15, 2025 | — |
| HD Media Systems | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| Mayors Machine Works | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| JIT Energy Services | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| Anderson Aluminum | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| Royal Machine & Tool | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| Reliable Roofing | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| Celtic Engineering | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| GDZ Computer Services | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| Cool Wind Ventilation | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| Rising Star Hydraulics | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| Edwards Interiors | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| GL Veneer | · Sep 10, 2025 | — |
| Energy Fishing | · Sep 9, 2025 | — |
| BDE Computer Services | · Sep 9, 2025 | — |
| Promark Partners | · Sep 9, 2025 | — |
| Arboris | · Sep 1, 2025 | — |
| Juggernaut | · Sep 1, 2025 | — |
| Vanderpool Construction | · Sep 1, 2025 | — |
| All States Materials Group | · Sep 1, 2025 | — |
| Logan & Mencuccini | · Aug 26, 2025 | — |
| Edward J McKarski | · Aug 26, 2025 | — |
| Banville Wine Merchants | · Aug 26, 2025 | — |
| Galaxy Freightline | · Aug 26, 2025 | — |
| Premier Realty Group | · Aug 26, 2025 | — |
| CBG Surveying Texas | · Aug 20, 2025 | — |
| Omega Global Technologies | · Aug 20, 2025 | — |
| ABcom | · Aug 14, 2025 | — |
| Greenscape Pump Services | · Aug 14, 2025 | — |
| eShipGlobal | · Aug 14, 2025 | — |
| NextLabs | · Aug 14, 2025 | — |
| The Scharine Group | · Aug 11, 2025 | — |
| Bluewater Yacht Sales | · Aug 11, 2025 | — |
| Travancore Analytics | · Aug 11, 2025 | — |
| Rite Track | · Aug 11, 2025 | — |
| NEAS | · Aug 9, 2025 | — |
| RHI Supply | · Aug 9, 2025 | — |
| CFI Tire Service | · Aug 9, 2025 | — |
| Jamco Aerospace | · Aug 6, 2025 | — |
| Emprise | · Aug 6, 2025 | — |
| Brad's Bedding Plants | · Aug 6, 2025 | — |
| The Magni Group | · Aug 6, 2025 | — |
| Phoenix Lighting | · Aug 4, 2025 | — |
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