Play Ransomware Recovery and Decryption
Is your network infected with Play ransomware? If yes then you are at the right place. Our team has developed Play Decryptor for this ransomware. The decryptor uses our high power servers to crack the encryption key and decrypt data. If you are looking for Play Ransomware Decryption Tools then feel free to contact us.
How to identify if Play ransomware infected your system
If you’re unable to open your files, notice an unusual file extension, or find a message demanding payment to regain access, Play ransomware might be the cause.
Files encrypted by Play typically have their extensions changed to “.play“.
- Extension: Encrypted files are renamed with the “.play” extension.
- Ransom Note: A simple text file usually titled
README.txtor similar, often containing just the word “PLAY” and an email for contact — no detailed instructions like most ransomware. - Double Extortion: It not only encrypts data but also exfiltrates (steals) sensitive files to pressure victims into paying.
- Manual Execution: Often deployed manually after attackers gain access, typically using tools like Cobalt Strike or remote desktop protocols (RDP).
- Targeted Attacks: Focuses on large organizations, including government agencies, law firms, and manufacturing companies.
What to do if your data is encrypted by PlayCrypt
- Identify which systems are encrypted.
- Look for the “.play” file extensions or the ransomware note (usually a
README.txt). - Check if backup systems were affected.
- Disconnect affected machines from:
- Network (wired & Wi-Fi)
- External drives
- Cloud accounts (e.g., OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.)
- This prevents the ransomware from spreading further.
- Explore your options by contacting our ransomware experts anytime, 24/7, for a free consultation.
Keep calm! Contact us now for a consultation and learn about your options!
What is
Play Ransomware?
Play (also known as PlayCrypt) is a sophisticated ransomware strain that first appeared in June 2022. It actively targets organizations and governments worldwide, focusing heavily on North America, South America, and Europe, with frequent attacks observed in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Argentina. Key sectors affected include aerospace and defense, healthcare, education, government, and telecommunications.
Play operates by encrypting its victims’ data and demanding a ransom for its release. The ransomware group is highly active, constantly targeting new organizations, and has impacted over 800 entities globally. Notably, the group has recently been observed exploiting a newly identified Windows zero-day vulnerability in attacks as recent as May 2025.
Play ransomware operates like a ghost in the infrastructure—quiet, deliberate, and designed to instill uncertainty before devastation. Unlike traditional ransomware that floods systems with messages and instructions, Play delivers a whisper: a single word, “PLAY,” dropped into a ransom note with minimal guidance. This subtlety isn’t laziness; it’s psychological warfare. It shifts the victim from panic into confusion, giving the attacker time to exploit fear while maintaining control over communication.
This ransomware doesn’t rely on automation alone. Its deployment is often manual, which means human attackers are behind the scenes, navigating the compromised network with surgical intent. They often spend days or weeks mapping out systems, stealing sensitive data, and preparing the environment so that when encryption hits, recovery is nearly impossible without expert intervention—or payment.
Technical Insights into Play Ransomware
Play ransomware distinguishes itself through specific technical characteristics and operational tactics. Understanding these details is crucial for effective detection and response.
- Encryption Algorithms: Play typically employs strong encryption algorithms, often a combination of ChaCha20 for file encryption and RSA-2048 for key encryption. This makes decryption without the attacker’s private key computationally infeasible.
- File Extension & Ransom Note: Encrypted files are notoriously marked with the
.playextension. The ransom note is distinctively minimalist, often a simple text file (e.g.,README.txt,README2.txt,play.txt) containing only the word “PLAY” and a contact email (e.g.,[email protected]), offering minimal direct instructions but maximizing psychological pressure. - Communication Methods: Post-infection communication for ransom negotiation often occurs via a hidden service TOR website or a provided email address, maintaining anonymity for the threat actors.
- Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs):
- Initial Access: Beyond RDP and unpatched software, the group extensively leverages vulnerabilities like ProxyNotShell (CVE-2022-41080), OWASSRF (CVE-2022-22947), and various FortiOS vulnerabilities (e.g., CVE-2018-13379, CVE-2020-12812, CVE-2022-42475). The recent exploitation of a Windows zero-day (CVE-2025-29824) demonstrates their continuous search for new entry points.
- Execution & Persistence: They often use legitimate tools (
Living Off The Land) like Cobalt Strike, WinPEAS (for privilege escalation), AdFind (for Active Directory reconnaissance), and Mimikatz (for credential dumping). Persistence is established through scheduled tasks and PowerShell scripts. - Defense Evasion: Play employs anti-analysis techniques such as Structured Exception Handling (SEH) hooking and complex, large-loop key generation functions within its code to complicate reverse engineering and automated analysis.
- Data Exfiltration: A core component of their double extortion strategy involves stealing sensitive data before encryption, threatening public leaks on their dark web portal if the ransom is not paid.
- Indicators of Compromise (IOCs):
- File Extensions:
.play - Ransom Note Names:
README.txt,README2.txt,play.txt - Observed Tools: Cobalt Strike, WinPEAS, AdFind, Mimikatz (presence of these tools on a compromised network is a strong indicator).
- Network Activity: Connections to specific TOR onion addresses for negotiation portals, or communication with the provided email address (e.g.,
[email protected]). - Hashes: Specific file hashes of Play ransomware binaries (these change frequently, so refer to up-to-date threat intelligence feeds).
- File Extensions:
Rapid Encryption
Play Ransomware is one of the fastest ransomware encryption speeds, making attacks harder to stop.
Double Extortion Tactics
Steals sensitive data before encrypting files, threatening public leaks.
Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS)
Play Ransomware doesn’t have any RaaS program yet.
Spreads Through Networks
Targets entire IT infrastructures, not just single devices.
How to identify Play ransomware?
Easiest way to identify Play ransomware is their extension. The latest version of Play ransomware uses .play extension while encrypting the data. Moreover, you can also verify the attack by ransom note. The sample of ransom note is given below named “ReadMe.txt”
“ReadMe2.txt” “play.txt”
Ransom note of Play Ransomware:
What to do if your data is encrypted by Play?
Request 24/7 Ransomware Recovery Help
Get expert guidance to assess, contain, and recover safely.
Isolate Infected Systems
Disconnect infected devices to stop the spread. Be careful while performing self-recovery
Preserve Evidence Immediately
Keep ransom notes & logs. Do not restart or modify anything.
Hit by ransomware? Contact us now for a
Free first assessment
If you face difficulties with free decryptors. You can contact us to get help for Play ransomware.
Play RANSOMWARE STATISTICS & FACTS
RANSOM AMOUNTS
Play ransomware often targets large companies or organizations using complex attacks.
The average Play ransom amount is somewhere between $250,000–$2,000,000, with some victims reporting demands well into the millions of dollars. But it isn’t limited to the ransom demand.
Victims are faced with unexpected costs in buying and transferring bitcoins, mostly the 10% exchange fees applying to the quick buy methods of Paypal and/or Credit Cards. Along with potential threats to have their personal and business information leaked or sold on the internet if demands are not met.
AVERAGE LENGTH
The Play ransomware downtime is a relatively shorter than normal ransomware attacks, since most attackers use automated TOR sites to expedite the process.
Depending on your company size and how often you use IT-systems in your daily business, this is the most expensive part of this incident. Additional to the unavailability of your IT-systems, this is damaging your company reputation.
You need to get your systems back up and hit the ground running as soon as possible. We’ll ensure minimum downtime once you let experts like us to manage your situation and recover data.
CASE OUTCOMES
There is a high chance to get a working Play decryptor after paying the attackers. This is because they use an automated process to accept payments and deliver the decryption tool. But there’s never a guarantee to get a working decryption key at all.
Most of the victims have reported getting a decryption key successfully on getting their data in original form.
The most common method used by Play ransomware to infect victims is phishing, RDP exploits, 0-Day Vulnerability Exploitation, Cisco VPN Vulnerability Exploitations.
| Name | Play Virus – Play Ransomware |
| Danger Level | Very high. Military-grade encryption and automatic blackmail capacity for leakware. |
| Release date | 2022 |
| Affected Systems | Windows/Linux |
| File Extensions | .play, playcrypt |
| Ransom demands | “ReadMe.txt” “play.txt” |
| Contact method/email | Only via a hidden service TOR website |
| Known scammers | None |
A typical Play ransomware note.
Your network has been encrypted. Your private, personal, corporate, confidential data has been stolen.
If you do not resolve the issue, your data will be published on our leak portal.
News portal, tor network links:
ipi4tiumgzjsym6pyuzrfqrtwskokxokqannmd6sa24shvr7x5kxdvqd.onion
j75o7xvvsm4lpsjhkjvb4wl2q6ajegvabe6oswthuaubbykk4xkzgpid.onion
contact email: [email protected]
PLAY Ransomware Team
How Does Play Ransomware Work?
Play ransomware works by infiltrating a target network, quietly observing and preparing before launching a destructive encryption attack. It often begins with attackers gaining access through vulnerabilities in remote services like RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) or unpatched software, sometimes using stolen credentials or exploiting weak security configurations. Beyond common methods, Play operators frequently exploit specific vulnerabilities such as ProxyNotShell, OWASSRF, and FortiOS vulnerabilities (e.2018-13379, CVE-2020-12812). Once inside, the attackers move laterally across systems, escalate privileges, and identify critical assets and data, often deploying tools like Cobalt Strike, WinPEAS, AdFind, and Mimikatz. They leverage techniques such as establishing scheduled tasks and PowerShell scripts for persistent access and widespread network traversal. Once inside, the attackers move laterally across systems, escalate privileges, and identify critical assets and data.
Unlike automated ransomware strains, Play is often deployed manually by human operators, which allows for a more tailored and damaging attack. Before encryption, attackers frequently exfiltrate sensitive data—documents, client records, financial information—to use as leverage, threatening to leak it if the ransom isn’t paid. The ransomware also incorporates anti-analysis techniques like Structured Exception Handling (SEH) hooking and complex key generation functions with large loops to hinder reverse engineering and make detection more challenging.
When the environment is fully mapped and the data has been stolen, the encryption process begins. Files across the network are locked and renamed with a “.play” extension. Victims find a brief ransom note, typically containing just the word “PLAY” and a contact email, offering no detailed explanation or payment instructions. This minimalist approach adds to the psychological pressure, creating confusion and urgency.
The final stage is extortion. The attackers demand payment, often in cryptocurrency, in exchange for a decryption key and the promise not to leak the stolen data. Even if the ransom is paid, there is no guarantee that data will be restored or that the attackers will keep their word. Without backups or expert recovery help, many organizations are left with few options—highlighting the calculated precision and ruthlessness of the Play ransomware operation.
Potential State Actor Links
Recent threat intelligence suggests potential connections between Play ransomware operations and North Korean Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups. These links are indicated by shared infrastructure, server configurations, and similar targeting methodologies, particularly within the healthcare sector.
Public Decryption Tools for Play Ransomware
Currently, there’s no public decryptors available for Play Ransomware. However, you can keep an eye on https://www.nomoreransom.org/ to check for public decryptors.
Further Free Resources & Support
Staying informed is critical in the fight against ransomware. Here are reputable sources for more information and assistance:
- No More Ransom Project: A joint initiative by law enforcement and IT security companies to help victims of ransomware recover their encrypted data without paying criminals. Visit:
https://www.nomoreransom.org/ - Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): CISA provides extensive guidance and resources for organizations on ransomware prevention and response. Visit:
https://www.cisa.gov/ransomware - National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): NIST offers cybersecurity frameworks and publications relevant to ransomware. Visit:
https://www.nist.gov/ - Your Dedicated Incident Response Team: If you’re currently facing an attack or need proactive security advice, contact our experts anytime, 24/7, for a free consultation. Our team is ready to assist.
Play Decryptor for Windows Server
Our team has recently launched the Play Decryptor for Windows Server, a powerful and effective tool designed to bypass Play ransomware’s encryptions and private keys. Utilizing an ID from the ransom note and our specialized online server, this decryptor has been successfully used in numerous cases.
For instance, in October 2024, we helped a U.S.-based company whose 4 physical servers (hosting 20+ virtual machines and 10 TB of critical data) were encrypted by Play ransomware. Using our decryptor, the client was able to fully recover all their data in just 3 to 4 hours. Post-recovery, we also identified and helped patch a VPN vulnerability that was the initial entry point. This real-world success demonstrates the rapid and reliable capabilities of our Play Decryptor. You can read full case study here: How We Decrypted Play Ransomware and Recovered 4 Physical Servers
Play Ransomware Decryptor for ESXI Servers
Our team has created decryptor for esxi servers encrypted with Play Ransomware. The decryptor uses online servers to bypass the encryptions and it can decrypt data with 99% accuracy. You can watch the demo video for this tool given below.
Need Help with Play ?
If you are still facing issues with Play Ransomware. You can contact us for help.
You can reach us on our mail: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
What our Clients say about us
Some of the proofs are attached from our previous customers. You can have a look at the screenshots given below. Our top most priority is your satisfaction.
