Threat Actor
Gold Encounter
- First Reported
- Apr 18, 2026
- Latest Reported
- Apr 20, 2026
Reported Context (2)
- Sophos attributed the reported attacks to Gold Encounter, described as a closed hacking group operating the PayoutsKing ransomware. Sophos Reports Threat Actors Abusing QEMU to Deploy Ransomware and Remote-Access Tools
- Sophos researchers associated GOLD ENCOUNTER with the STAC4713 campaign, which was linked to the Payouts King ransomware operation. Sophos also attributed activity involving exposed Cisco VPN access and Microsoft Teams social engineering to the group. Payouts King Uses Hidden QEMU Virtual Machines to Evade Endpoint Security
CVE (2)
Malware (2)
Threat Actors (1)
MITRE ATT&CK (15)
Vendors (4)
Products (9)
Tools (12)
Note: Related entities, including threat actors, malware, CVEs, MITRE ATT&CK techniques, vendors, products, tools, countries, and industries, are shown when they appear in the same reporting. Their presence does not necessarily mean they were targeted, compromised, vulnerable, responsible for the activity, or directly involved in the incident.