diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/config.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/config.py
index 5111bae48..f7ec13af6 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/config.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/config.py
@@ -197,8 +197,7 @@ class Configuration(object):
     # ransomware config
     ###########################
 
-    windows_dir_ransom = ""
-    linux_dir_ransom = ""
+    ransomware = ""
 
     def get_exploit_user_password_pairs(self):
         """
diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/monkey.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/monkey.py
index e03296570..abd0b3f18 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/monkey.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/monkey.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from infection_monkey.network.HostFinger import HostFinger
 from infection_monkey.network.network_scanner import NetworkScanner
 from infection_monkey.network.tools import get_interface_to_target, is_running_on_island
 from infection_monkey.post_breach.post_breach_handler import PostBreach
-from infection_monkey.ransomware import start_ransomware
+from infection_monkey.ransomware.ransomware_payload import RansomewarePayload
 from infection_monkey.system_info import SystemInfoCollector
 from infection_monkey.system_singleton import SystemSingleton
 from infection_monkey.telemetry.attack.t1106_telem import T1106Telem
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ class InfectionMonkey(object):
                     if not self._keep_running:
                         break
 
-                start_ransomware()
+                RansomewarePayload(WormConfiguration.ransomware).run_payload()
 
                 if (not is_empty) and (WormConfiguration.max_iterations > iteration_index + 1):
                     time_to_sleep = WormConfiguration.timeout_between_iterations
diff --git a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config.py b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config.py
index 7c7429756..acb12d48a 100644
--- a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config.py
+++ b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config.py
@@ -106,6 +106,10 @@ class ConfigService:
         config_json = ConfigService.get_config(is_initial_config, should_decrypt)
         flat_config_json = {}
         for i in config_json:
+            if i == "ransomware":
+                # Don't flatten the ransomware because ransomware payload expects a dictionary #1260
+                flat_config_json[i] = config_json[i]
+                continue
             for j in config_json[i]:
                 for k in config_json[i][j]:
                     if isinstance(config_json[i][j][k], dict):
diff --git a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/ransomware.py b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/ransomware.py
index b5d250f00..74b5d3d67 100644
--- a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/ransomware.py
+++ b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/ransomware.py
@@ -6,14 +6,14 @@ RANSOMWARE = {
             "title": "Directories to encrypt",
             "type": "object",
             "properties": {
-                "linux_dir_ransom": {
+                "linux_dir": {
                     "title": "Linux encryptable directory",
                     "type": "string",
                     "default": "",
                     "description": "Files in the specified directory will be encrypted "
                     "using bitflip to simulate ransomware.",
                 },
-                "windows_dir_ransom": {
+                "windows_dir": {
                     "title": "Windows encryptable directory",
                     "type": "string",
                     "default": "",