An interface device for interfacing between a networkable device such as a printer
and a network, includes a hub and a circuit board, with the hub constructed with
plural ports to repeat network transmissions received on one port to all other
ports. An isolation switch is provided for controllably isolating the port to which
the network is connected so that network transmissions are not repeated by the
hub. The isolation switch is operated under control of the circuit board, which
implements network functionality for the networkable device. For example, where
the networkable device is a printer, the extended network functionality provided
by the circuit board may relate to secure printing. The isolation switch can be
operated so as to isolate the network from the printer, to permit the circuit board
to transmit decrypted print jobs in clear text to the printer without danger of
interception over the network.