MalwareHunterTeam has uncovered a simplistic, and almost benign, ransomware that is still under development that requires the victim to play the game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds in order to restore the encrypted files.
And if the person targeted is not in the mood to play, the ransomware creators also supply a decryptor code in the ransom note, reported Bleeping Computer.
MalwareHunterTeam said the malware has not yet hit the wild, but if were to be installed it would encryptsjust the computer's desktop files and folders and attaches a .pubg extension. The “ransom note” then appears stating the files can be decrypted by playing the game or entering the pre-supplied key, s2acxx56a2sae5fjh5k2gb5s2e.
Once the malware recognizes that the game has been opened it frees the files.
This methodology is similar to Rensenware, which was spotted in April 2017. However, in that case, the malware required the victim to hit a certain score level to release the encrypted files.