diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/config.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/config.py
index d00d55814..f7ec13af6 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/config.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/config.py
@@ -193,7 +193,11 @@ class Configuration(object):
     ms08_067_exploit_attempts = 5
     user_to_add = "Monkey_IUSER_SUPPORT"
 
-    # User and password dictionaries for exploits.
+    ###########################
+    # ransomware config
+    ###########################
+
+    ransomware = ""
 
     def get_exploit_user_password_pairs(self):
         """
diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/monkey.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/monkey.py
index 7e188b74d..abd0b3f18 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/monkey.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/monkey.py
@@ -19,6 +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.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
@@ -232,6 +233,8 @@ class InfectionMonkey(object):
                     if not self._keep_running:
                         break
 
+                RansomewarePayload(WormConfiguration.ransomware).run_payload()
+
                 if (not is_empty) and (WormConfiguration.max_iterations > iteration_index + 1):
                     time_to_sleep = WormConfiguration.timeout_between_iterations
                     LOG.info("Sleeping %d seconds before next life cycle iteration", time_to_sleep)
diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..941055062
--- /dev/null
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import logging
+
+LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class RansomewarePayload:
+    def __init__(self, config: dict):
+        self.config = config
+
+    def run_payload(self):
+        LOG.info(
+            f"Windows dir configured for encryption is " f"{self.config['windows_dir_ransom']}"
+        )
+        LOG.info(f"Linux dir configured for encryption is " f"{self.config['linux_dir_ransom']}")
+
+        file_list = self._find_files()
+        self._encrypt_files(file_list)
+
+    def _find_files(self):
+        return []
+
+    def _encrypt_files(self, file_list):
+        for file in file_list:
+            self._encrypt_file(file)
+
+    def _encrypt_file(self, file):
+        pass
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/config_schema.py b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/config_schema.py
index 3900b0675..fb1e35b45 100644
--- a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/config_schema.py
+++ b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/config_schema.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from monkey_island.cc.services.config_schema.definitions.system_info_collector_c
 )
 from monkey_island.cc.services.config_schema.internal import INTERNAL
 from monkey_island.cc.services.config_schema.monkey import MONKEY
+from monkey_island.cc.services.config_schema.ransomware import RANSOMWARE
 
 SCHEMA = {
     "title": "Monkey",
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ SCHEMA = {
         "basic": BASIC,
         "basic_network": BASIC_NETWORK,
         "monkey": MONKEY,
+        "ransomware": RANSOMWARE,
         "internal": INTERNAL,
     },
     "options": {"collapsed": True},
diff --git a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/ransomware.py b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/ransomware.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..74b5d3d67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/services/config_schema/ransomware.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+RANSOMWARE = {
+    "title": "Ransomware",
+    "type": "object",
+    "properties": {
+        "directories": {
+            "title": "Directories to encrypt",
+            "type": "object",
+            "properties": {
+                "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": {
+                    "title": "Windows encryptable directory",
+                    "type": "string",
+                    "default": "",
+                    "description": "Files in the specified directory will be encrypted "
+                    "using bitflip to simulate ransomware.",
+                },
+            },
+        }
+    },
+}
diff --git a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/ui/src/components/pages/ConfigurePage.js b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/ui/src/components/pages/ConfigurePage.js
index c6e27f476..ed827401b 100644
--- a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/ui/src/components/pages/ConfigurePage.js
+++ b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/ui/src/components/pages/ConfigurePage.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class ConfigurePageComponent extends AuthComponent {
     this.currentFormData = {};
     this.initialConfig = {};
     this.initialAttackConfig = {};
-    this.sectionsOrder = ['attack', 'basic', 'basic_network', 'monkey', 'internal'];
+    this.sectionsOrder = ['attack', 'basic', 'basic_network', 'ransomware', 'monkey', 'internal'];
 
     this.state = {
       attackConfig: {},