How to remove PLAY ransomware

PLAY ransomware can permanently encrypt users' personal files making them useless

PLAY ransomware is a dangerous file-locking virus that can permanently damage users' data. It uses complicated encryption algorithms to lock users' personal files, like photos, videos, and documents. The main goal of this malicious program is to extract money from victims that want to recover their data.

The affected files are appended with the .PLAY extension. So if a file is previously named picture.jpg, after the encryption the name is changed to picture.jpg.PLAY. The icons are also changed to white pages so thumbnails are unavailable. Shortly after, a ransom note is generated on the machine.

The ransom note

PLAY ransomware developers wrote a very short ransom note that only provides their email address:

PLAY
boitelswaniruxl@gmx.com

It seems like these cybercriminals want to deal with everything privately. They do not want to give away anything. Usually, cybercriminals try to scare victims into paying the ransom immediately to prevent them from looking at other options. They promise that if victims pay they will receive a decryption tool that will recover their files.

Most of the time, threat actors want to receive payment in cryptocurrencies, and more specifically, Bitcoin. They choose this method because it provides anonymity. We strongly advise not to contact cyber criminals and not to pay them because they cannot be trusted.

Many previous ransomware victims have come forward and said that they never received the promised decryption keys^[1] after sending the payment. After cryptocurrencies are sent to another wallet, it is impossible to get them back – there are no refunds.

Distribution methods

It is unknown what particular methods are used to spread PLAY ransomware. But there are some general tactics that threat actors use. Typically, the malicious code^[2] gets into the system as an executable file (.exe). It can be in a zip folder, embedded within a Microsoft Office document’s macros,^[3] or disguised as fax or another viable attachment.

Many people like to browse through Torrent websites, and peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms looking for “cracked” software.^[4] However, such places are the perfect breeding ground for all kinds of malware. Almost all downloads contain malicious files. Even though it might get costly, it is best to use official web app stores and developer websites for software installations. You may save in the long run by keeping your system running smoothly.

You should also never believe everything you see. Threat actors use various phishing techniques to people you in. Social engineering methods can be used in an email to convince people to open an infected attachment or a malicious URL. Fraudsters can use your friend list to make it look more legitimate, so it is best to double-check with the person through another platform before opening anything.

One of the most important things to do if you want to avoid malware infections is to keep your operating system and software updated. Hackers can use software vulnerabilities to deliver malicious programs. Software developers regularly release security updates for newly found vulnerabilities, so you should install them as soon as they come out.

Use professional security tools to eliminate malicious files

The critical thing to do is disconnect the affected machine from the local network. For home users, disconnecting the ethernet cable should do the job. If this happened at your workplace, doing that might be complicated, so we have instructions for corporate environments at the bottom of this post.

If you try to recover your data first, it can result in permanent loss. It can also encrypt your files the second time. It will not stop until you remove the malicious files causing it first. You should not attempt removing the malicious program yourself unless you have experience.

Use anti-malware tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to scan your system. This security software should find all the related files and entries and remove them automatically for you. In some cases, malware is not letting you use antivirus in normal mode, so you need to access Safe Mode and perform a full system scan from there:

Windows 7 / Vista / XP

1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing the F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Windows 10 / Windows 8

1. Right-click on the Start button and select Settings.
   
2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
4. Now scroll down to find the Advanced Startup section.
5. Click Restart now.
6. Select Troubleshoot.
7. Go to Advanced options.
8. Select Startup Settings.
9. Click Restart.
10. Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Fix system errors to prevent Windows reinstallation

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a complete Windows reinstall is required, are expected after malware infection. These types of infections can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged by malware, antivirus software is not able to repair it. 

This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this maintenance tool, you could avoid Windows reinstallation.

• Download the application by clicking on the link above
• Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
  
• If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
• Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
• The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
• Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
• You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
• If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.

File recovery options

Many people think that they can fix their files with anti-malware tools, but that is not what they are designed for. All the security tools can do is detect suspicious processes in your system and eliminate malicious files. The truth is, the files can be restored only with a decryption key or software that only the cybercriminals have.

If you did not back up your data previously, you possibly lost your files forever. You can try using data recovery software, but third-party programs cannot always decrypt the files. We suggest at least trying this method. Before proceeding, you have to copy the corrupted files and place them in a USB flash drive or another storage. And remember – only do this if you have already removed the PLAY ransomware.

Before you begin, several pointers are essential while dealing with this situation:

• Since the encrypted data on your computer might permanently be damaged by security or data recovery software, you should first make backups of it – use a USB flash drive or another storage.
• Only attempt to recover your files using this method after you perform a scan with anti-malware software.

Install data recovery software

1. Download Data Recovery Pro.
2. Double-click the installer to launch it.
3. Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
4. As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
5. Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
6. Press Next.
7. At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
8. Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
9. You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
10. Press Recover to retrieve your files.