What is IKEv2 (2024)

FAQs

What does a IKEv2 VPN do? ›

Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) is a tunneling protocol, based on IPsec, that establishes a secure VPN communication between VPN devices and defines negotiation and authentication processes for IPsec security associations (SAs). Various VPN providers refer to this combination as IKEv2/IPsec, or IKEv2 VPN.

IKEv2 and OpenVPN are both solid choices when it comes to speed, security, and reliability. IKEv2 has the edge when it comes to speed and is a better choice for mobile devices due to its stability. However, OpenVPN is the stronger option if security is the top priority, and it still offers a fast connection.

Using encryption keys for both ends of the VPN connection, IKEv2 is more secure than IKEv1. With its built-in NAT traversal, IKEv2 establishes a connection much faster than IKEv1. IKEv2 takes up less bandwidth and less data overhead.

Is IKEv2 Secure? IKEv2 is regarded as a secure VPN protocol. It incorporates methods like Diffie-Hellman key exchange to establish safe connections, ensuring that each session has unique encryption keys. Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) provides an additional layer of security by generating new keys for each session.

One downside of IKEv2, though, is that it is only used on Port 500 which makes it easier to block by network administrators as they can simply block Port 500 on the network and IKEv2 won't connect anymore.

IKEv2 is suitable for streaming because of its fast connection speeds and ability to maintain a stable connection.

Point-to-point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) is the oldest and least secure VPN protocol. Due to its weak encryption and known security vulnerabilities, PPTP is considered obsolete and isn't typically used by reputable VPN providers.

IKEv2 – Internet Key Exchange

Based on the IPSec framework, IKEv2 is the most recent and advanced VPN protocol.

Key compromise: IKEv2 relies on exchanging cryptographic keys to establish a secure connection. If the keys are compromised through either brute-force attacks, cryptographic weaknesses, or other means, an attacker could decrypt the VPN traffic or impersonate the VPN server.

How do I remove IKEv2? ›

Remove the IKEv2 VPN connection. To remove the IKEv2 VPN connection, open Settings -> General -> VPN & Device Management or Profile(s) and remove the IKEv2 VPN profile you added.

The IKEv2/IPSec connection is one of the alternative methods to connect to NordVPN servers on your Windows PC. This is the preferred connection method among privacy enthusiasts because the IKEv2/IPSec security protocol is currently one of the most advanced on the market.

IKEv2 is used for secure VPN communication between VPN-capable devices and defines the negotiation and authentication for IPsec security associations. As it's one of the most popular VPN tunneling protocols, let's take a deeper look at it in this article.

In other words, OpenVPN is the most secure protocol. WireGuard uses state-of-the-art cryptography. It doesn't support AES encryption, but it substitutes it with ChaCha20. It's less complex, but still very secure.

VPNs are generally safe for transmitting data over the internet but aren't 100% secure. A VPN doesn't constitute a complete cybersecurity strategy. VPNs protect data in transit, preventing unauthorized access and data breaches. But VPNs can have vulnerabilities and don't address all security risks.

IPsec is a data-transporting tunnel that establishes a secure data transmission to a VPN server. That is why IKEv2 needs IPsec – thanks to this combination, the connection is both fast and well-protected. So in the IKEv2 vs. IPsec dispute, there is no winner.

Between IKEv2 and OpenVPN, IKEv2 is an ideal choice for online games. It consumes less CPU, especially on mobile devices, reducing battery consumption and making it suitable for mobile gamers. As for online fun, OpenVPN can help unblock geo-restricted servers and internet censorship.

IKEv2 supports more features and is faster and more secure than IKEv1. IKEv2 uses leading encryption algorithms and high-end ciphers such as AES and ChaCha20, making it more secure than IKEv1. Its support for NAT-T and MOBIKE also makes it faster and more reliable than its predecessor.