Play Group Strikes Waterborne Environmental with Devastating Attack

Ransomware

Summary

On October 3, 2025, the ransomware group Play publicly claimed responsibility for an attack targeting
Waterborne Environmental (waterborne-env.com), a U.S.-based company providing environmental services.
According to the threat actor’s post, they intend to release sensitive data unless negotiations are initiated.


Incident Report

FieldDetails
TargetWaterborne Environmental
Domainwaterborne-env.com
CountryUSA
Attacking GroupPlay
Date ReportedOctober 3, 2025
Threat Actor Statement“The full leak will be published soon, unless a company representative contacts us via the channels provided.”

Waterborne Environmental, a leader in environmental consulting services, has become the latest victim of a ransomware attack orchestrated by the Play group. As a specialized firm, Waterborne Environmental plays a crucial role in environmental risk assessment and management, making this breach particularly concerning.

The Play group, known for their aggressive tactics, demands negotiations under the threat of releasing confidential data. This incident underscores the growing threat of ransomware attacks targeting critical service providers.

Organizations worldwide are urged to enhance their cybersecurity measures. Proactive responses, such as darkweb monitoring, can help detect potential threats early. Regularly scanning for exposed data can prevent breaches before they escalate. We recommend using the email breach checker at https://mspdarkintel.com/domain-breach-scan to monitor your company’s exposure and ensure timely action.

Recommendations

  • Monitor your domains and email addresses for exposure using reputable threat intelligence tools.
  • Conduct a full compromise assessment and incident response drill internally.
  • Verify backups and ensure they are offline and ransomware-resistant.
  • Educate staff on phishing, social engineering, and lateral movement techniques used by groups like Qilin.
  • Engage with cyber forensics and legal counsel before initiating contact with threat actors.

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Disclaimer

The MSPDarkIntel team does not engage in the exfiltration, downloading, taking, hosting, viewing, reposting, or disclosure of any stolen information.
All breach data reported here is sourced from publicly available threat intelligence feeds for awareness and early-warning purposes only.
Our goal is to inform organizations of emerging threats so they can take timely defensive action.

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