A secure wireless LAN device includes a housing, a wireless transceiver
carried by the housing, a medium access controller (MAC) carried by the
housing, and a cryptography circuit carried by the housing and connected
to the MAC and the wireless transceiver. The cryptography circuit may
encrypt both address and data information for transmission, and decrypt
both address and data information upon reception. Accordingly, a higher
level of security may be provided. The cryptography circuit may implement
an algorithm and use a key to provide a predetermined security level,
such as up to Type 1 security, although lower levels may also be
implemented. Of course, the secure wireless LAN device may be used with
other LAN devices, such as user stations and/or access points, in any of
a number of different LAN configurations. The MAC may implement a
predetermined wireless LAN MAC protocol. For example, the LAN MAC
protocol may be based upon the IEEE 802.11 standard. The device may also
include at least one connector carried by the housing for connecting the
MAC to at least one of a LAN station and a LAN access point. This
connector may be a PCMCIA connector, for example.