Cybercrime is a threat to all of us. But Israeli startup Illusive Networks has an innovative approach to protecting sensitive data: make hackers think they've succeeded by providing them with fake, useless information.

Illusive Networks, which is made up of cyber attack experts from Unit 8200, Israel's elite cyber security Intelligence Corps, plants false data in a company's network and waits for hackers to find it. When a hacker reaches this data, an alarm notifies the security team, who can then isolate the vulnerable part of the network, allowing the rest of the business to continue unharmed.

The genius of Illusive Network's approach is that it detects cybercriminals who are using a network in an unusual way. Suspicious users are provided with the fake data, but regular users aren't even aware of this alternate reality and can continue to use networks, websites, and computer equipment without interruption.

The program is inexpensive to use and very difficult for hackers to detect, which is probably why Illusive Networks received $22 million in its second round of funding in 2015. Overall, Israeli cybersecurity companies raised about $250 million in 2015--nearly 20% of global investment.

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