A London-based cybersecurity firm has raised $15 million (£11.1 million) in a funding round led by Google Ventures. MokN, which focuses on preventing credential theft, aims to expand its Phish-Back solution—a system designed to recover stolen login details before attackers can use them.
How the Technology Works
The company’s approach involves creating decoy access points that mirror real login environments. Attackers who use stolen credentials on these fake systems unknowingly reveal their theft. This method allows MokN to intercept and recover sensitive information automatically.
Gautier Bugeon, MokN’s co-founder and CEO, explained that their system turns the tables on cybercriminals. He noted that compromised identities had long been a blind spot in security defenses. The firm now works with major enterprises to address this gap through its Active Identity Recovery model.
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Phish-Back’s core feature is its use of high-fidelity decoys. These are not simple traps but environments that closely replicate real corporate systems. When attackers interact with them, the process triggers automated recovery workflows, neutralizing threats before damage occurs.
Investor Confidence
Google Ventures is not the only backer. The round also includes DataDog, Moonfire, OVNI Capital, and individual investors. Luna Schmid, a partner at GV, highlighted Bugeon’s background as a former SOC manager as a key factor in the investment decision.
“Their initial product, Baits, shows they’ve created a sophisticated tool to disrupt attackers,” Schmid said. She described the approach as a significant change for enterprises facing credential theft. The team’s ability to tackle a critical cybersecurity gap, she added, made the investment compelling.
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Traditional methods often rely on detecting breaches after they occur. This firm’s model instead aims to intercept attacks at the point of exploitation, reducing the risk of data loss or system compromise.
The company’s current clients include some of the largest enterprises in the UK and Europe. These partnerships are helping MokN refine its technology and expand its reach. With the new funding, it plans to scale its operations and improve the Phish-Back platform’s capabilities.
One challenge for MokN is ensuring its decoys remain indistinguishable from real systems. Attackers are becoming more sophisticated, and any discrepancy could allow them to bypass the traps. The firm’s engineers are working to keep the simulations as realistic as possible, using data from real-world breaches to inform their designs.
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Many companies still rely on reactive measures rather than proactive solutions. MokN’s approach represents a shift toward prevention, though it’s unclear how widely it will be adopted.
The funding round reflects growing interest in identity-focused security. As remote work and digital transformation increase, the risk of credential theft has risen sharply. Investors are betting that solutions like MokN’s will become essential for enterprises looking to protect themselves.
For now, the company remains focused on scaling its technology. It has not disclosed specific plans for product development or expansion beyond its current partnerships. But with Google Ventures and other investors on board, MokN appears poised to grow its influence in the cybersecurity sector.
