Enhanced Guidance on Play Ransomware Threats and Mitigations

TL;DR

CISA, the FBI, and the ASD’s ACSC have released an updated advisory on Play ransomware, highlighting new tactics and providing updated indicators of compromise (IOCs). Play ransomware, also known as Playcrypt, has targeted diverse businesses and critical infrastructure across North America, South America, and Europe. Recommended mitigations include implementing multifactor authentication, maintaining offline data backups, developing and testing a recovery plan, and keeping all operating systems, software, and firmware updated.

Main Content

CISA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) have issued an updated advisory on Play ransomware, also known as Playcrypt. This advisory highlights new tactics, techniques, and procedures used by the Play ransomware group and provides updated indicators of compromise (IOCs) to enhance threat detection¹.

Since June 2022, Playcrypt has targeted diverse businesses and critical infrastructure across North America, South America, and Europe, becoming one of the most active ransomware groups in 2024. The FBI has identified approximately 900 entities allegedly exploited by these ransomware actors as of May 2025².

Recommended Mitigations

To protect against Play ransomware, the following mitigations are recommended:

• Implement multifactor authentication to secure access to systems and data.
• Maintain offline data backups to ensure data recovery in case of an attack.
• Develop and test a recovery plan to minimize downtime and data loss.
• Keep all operating systems, software, and firmware updated to patch known vulnerabilities.

Stay Vigilant

Organizations are advised to stay vigilant and take proactive measures to protect against ransomware attacks. Regularly updating systems, implementing strong security protocols, and educating employees about potential threats can significantly reduce the risk of a successful attack.

Conclusion

The updated advisory on Play ransomware underscores the importance of staying informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and taking proactive measures to protect against them. By implementing the recommended mitigations, organizations can enhance their security posture and better defend against ransomware attacks.

References

1. CISA (2025). “Updated Guidance on Play Ransomware”. Retrieved 2025-06-04. ↩︎

2. FBI (2025). “Play Ransomware Targets”. Retrieved 2025-06-04. ↩︎