diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
index f46c5ae72..ec6da23ec 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import logging
+import shutil
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List, Optional, Tuple
 
@@ -14,6 +15,9 @@ LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 EXTENSION = ".m0nk3y"
 CHUNK_SIZE = 4096 * 24
 
+README_SRC = Path(__file__).parent / "ransomware_readme.txt"
+README_DEST = "README.txt"
+
 
 class RansomewarePayload:
     def __init__(self, config: dict, telemetry_messenger: ITelemetryMessenger):
@@ -29,6 +33,9 @@ class RansomewarePayload:
             else target_directories["linux_dir"]
         )
 
+        self._readme_enabled = config["other_behaviors"]["readme"]
+        LOG.info(f"README enabled: {self._readme_enabled}")
+
         self._new_file_extension = EXTENSION
         self._valid_file_extensions_for_encryption = VALID_FILE_EXTENSIONS_FOR_ENCRYPTION.copy()
         self._valid_file_extensions_for_encryption.discard(self._new_file_extension)
@@ -39,6 +46,7 @@ class RansomewarePayload:
     def run_payload(self):
         file_list = self._find_files()
         self._encrypt_files(file_list)
+        self._leave_readme()
 
     def _find_files(self) -> List[Path]:
         if not self._target_dir:
@@ -67,3 +75,10 @@ class RansomewarePayload:
     def _send_telemetry(self, filepath: Path, error: str):
         encryption_attempt = RansomwareTelem((str(filepath), str(error)))
         self._telemetry_messenger.send_telemetry(encryption_attempt)
+
+    def _leave_readme(self):
+        if self._readme_enabled:
+            try:
+                shutil.copyfile(README_SRC, Path(self._target_dir) / README_DEST)
+            except Exception as ex:
+                LOG.warning(f"An error occurred while attempting to leave a README.txt file: {ex}")
diff --git a/monkey/tests/unit_tests/infection_monkey/ransomware/test_ransomware_payload.py b/monkey/tests/unit_tests/infection_monkey/ransomware/test_ransomware_payload.py
index 35aef048c..5ebb5950c 100644
--- a/monkey/tests/unit_tests/infection_monkey/ransomware/test_ransomware_payload.py
+++ b/monkey/tests/unit_tests/infection_monkey/ransomware/test_ransomware_payload.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import os
-from pathlib import PurePath
+from pathlib import Path, PurePath
 
 import pytest
 from tests.unit_tests.infection_monkey.ransomware.ransomware_target_files import (
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ from tests.unit_tests.infection_monkey.ransomware.ransomware_target_files import
 from tests.utils import hash_file, is_user_admin
 
 from infection_monkey.ransomware import ransomware_payload as ransomware_payload_module
-from infection_monkey.ransomware.ransomware_payload import EXTENSION, RansomewarePayload
+from infection_monkey.ransomware.ransomware_payload import (
+    EXTENSION,
+    README_DEST,
+    RansomewarePayload,
+)
 from infection_monkey.telemetry.i_telem import ITelem
 from infection_monkey.telemetry.messengers.i_telemetry_messenger import ITelemetryMessenger
 
@@ -42,7 +46,8 @@ def with_extension(filename):
 @pytest.fixture
 def ransomware_payload_config(ransomware_target):
     return {
-        "directories": {"linux_dir": str(ransomware_target), "windows_dir": str(ransomware_target)}
+        "directories": {"linux_dir": str(ransomware_target), "windows_dir": str(ransomware_target)},
+        "other_behaviors": {"readme": False},
     }
 
 
@@ -166,3 +171,19 @@ def test_telemetry_failure(monkeypatch, ransomware_payload, telemetry_messenger_
 
     assert "/file/not/exist" in telem_1.get_data()["ransomware_attempts"][0]
     assert "No such file or directory" in telem_1.get_data()["ransomware_attempts"][1]
+
+
+def test_readme_false(ransomware_payload_config, ransomware_target, telemetry_messenger_spy):
+    ransomware_payload_config["other_behaviors"]["readme"] = False
+    ransomware_payload = RansomewarePayload(ransomware_payload_config, telemetry_messenger_spy)
+
+    ransomware_payload.run_payload()
+    assert not Path(ransomware_target / README_DEST).exists()
+
+
+def test_readme_true(ransomware_payload_config, ransomware_target, telemetry_messenger_spy):
+    ransomware_payload_config["other_behaviors"]["readme"] = True
+    ransomware_payload = RansomewarePayload(ransomware_payload_config, telemetry_messenger_spy)
+
+    ransomware_payload.run_payload()
+    assert Path(ransomware_target / README_DEST).exists()