
INC Ransom
Also known as:GOLD IONIC
Overview
INC Ransom is a ransomware and data extortion threat group associated with the deployment of INC Ransomware that has been active since at least July 2023. INC Ransom has targeted organizations worldwide most commonly in the industrial, healthcare, and education sectors in the US and Europe.
Naming & attribution
INC Ransom is tracked under 2 names across the industry. It uses 25 documented ATT&CK techniques — more than 59% of the 174 groups tracked here.
| Name | First reported by |
|---|---|
| GOLD IONIC | Counter Threat Unit Research Team |
Distinctive techniques
Techniques this group uses that are rare across the other 173 tracked groups — these carry more signal than the near-universal ones.
T1537Transfer Data to Cloud Account — used by 3 of 174 groups
Closest groups by technique overlap
Computed from shared ATT&CK techniques. Overlap is not attribution — distinct actors converge on the same tradecraft — but a high share is a useful pivot.
Capabilities
- Exploitation of public-facing / client applications — ATT&CK T1190
TTPs — 25 techniques across 11 tactics
Resource Development
T1588.002Tool
Initial Access
Execution
T1047Windows Management InstrumentationT1059.003Windows Command ShellT1569.002Service Execution
Stealth
T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or LocationT1070.004File DeletionT1078Valid Accounts
Defense Impairment
Discovery
T1046Network Service DiscoveryT1049System Network Connections DiscoveryT1069.002Domain GroupsT1087.002Domain AccountT1135Network Share Discovery
Lateral Movement
T1021.001Remote Desktop ProtocolT1570Lateral Tool Transfer
Collection
T1074Data StagedT1560.001Archive via Utility
Command and Control
Exfiltration
Impact
T1486Data Encrypted for ImpactT1657Financial Theft
Tools & malware (8)
Tor · PsExec · Nltest · Rclone · AdFind · Net · esentutl · INC Ransomware
Reporting (3)
- GOLD IONIC DEPLOYS INC RANSOMWARE — Counter Threat Unit Research Team
- INC Ransom threatens to leak 3TB of NHS Scotland stolen data — Toulas, B
- Threat Alert: INC Ransomware — Cybereason Security Research Team