IPv6 is considered more secure than IPv4 for several reasons and improvements built into its design, including aspects related to security and authentication.

We explain why and what key protocol they use to improve security:

Security improvements in IPv6

1. IPSec integration: Unlike IPv4, IPv6 has been designed with security in mind from its conception. One of the most significant improvements is the native integration of the Internet Security Protocol Suite (IPSec) as a standard for IPv6. Although IPSec can also be used in IPv4 networks, in IPv6 it is a fundamental and recommended feature for all IPv6 connections. This means that communication over IPv6 can automatically be more secure thanks to the end-to-end encryption and authentication offered by IPSec, thus protecting data from being eavesdropped or altered during transmission.
2. Better package management: IPv6 includes new features that improve the way data packets are handled. This includes simplifying the packet header to make routing more efficient and implementing security features directly at the network layer, which is a significant improvement over IPv4.
3. Less need for NAT (Network Address Translation): In IPv4, the shortage of IP addresses led to the widespread use of NAT to allow multiple devices to share a single public IP address. NAT can introduce complications and limitations to communication between devices on the network. IPv6, with its vast address space, largely eliminates the need for NAT, allowing each device to have its own unique IP address. This simplifies end-to-end connections and potentially improves security by making the traceability and identification of devices on the network more direct.

Protocol used: IPSec

IPSec is the key protocol that IPv6 uses to provide security. It works at the network layer and offers the following features:

• Confidentiality: Data encryption ensures that only the intended recipient can read the content of the data.
• Data integrity: Ensures that data has not been altered during transmission.
• Authentication: Verifies that the data comes from the correct sender and that the receiver is the intended recipient.
• Protection against replay attacks: Prevents an attacker from capturing and retransmitting data packets to trick the receiver.

Therefore, thanks to these built-in improvements, IPv6 offers a more secure foundation for communication on the Internet, essential to protect the privacy and integrity of data on the growing number of connected devices today.