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.