I suppose it started a couple of days ago when Gmail Notifier constantly reported that it couldn't access the server, i paid it no attention as i could simply double click on it to bring up my inbox and put it down to a problem with the program's server which would be corrected in due time.

I continued normally, logging into MSN and World Of Warcraft...coincidentally i ran the symantec online hacker check where it scans your ports and sees how easy to hack you are etc. i scored quite well with just a couple of open ports that i checked out in the network connections section of the firewall config, seeing that everything was in order with no suspicious programs running i changed nothing and went on doing my thing.

However today i can no longer log into Warcraft, MSN, or indeed Hotmail or run an online speed checker which i tried on my other computer and works just fine, i can also log into MSN on it.
Ive tried disabling Norton Firewall but it makes no difference.

Im assuming that somehow and for some reason certain ports are being blocked as i said, i havent changed any system settings pertaining to the network recently. Could this be a virus or some malware?

--EDIT: Additional Technical info in case it helps...
I connect to the internet with an NTL DSL modem
That in turn connects to a Netgear RP614v3 DSL Router which acts as the DHCP server
In another room i have my old Netgear DG834 ADSL Router which i simply use as a switch (disabled the DHCP function) and both PCs connect through this.
I have Norton Internet Security v2005 completely up-to-date on both PCs (interesting how the liveupdate can still access its server)

I dont think any of this matters however as its only today that the problem started and none of the hardware or software has changed, just thought you guys might like to know exactly whats goin on.
---

Any help very greatly appreciated
Thanks

Hello Meaty Popsicle!

Welcome to PHF.

Let's put norton to one side for a second. Is your Windows firewall disabled? It's a good idea to disable Windows Firwall if your using a third party firewall also.

Hi thanks

Yes its disabled on all my PCs by default almost, first thing i do before installing a third-party firewall.

Spyware and virus's tend to stuff up your network by sending constant packets through your network. It's not unheard of, but less likely that it would be actually blocking ports.

Can you tell me what internet activities you can actually do on your PC, if any?

Well, i can browse pretty much any website, excluding certain pages that require login it seems (for some reason forums like this arent affected) but ebay, hotmail, world of warcraft account management page all 'time out' and fail to display.

It seems almost all programs save Norton and my internet browser are unable to connect to the internet from this PC
Programs that ive tested that dont work include;
MSN
Xfire
Steam
World of Warcraft
Gmail Notifier
Azureus
CuteFTP

I would think of perhaps reinstalling Norton if it werent for the problem i have with webpages which seems to me unlikely to be related to the firewall as i can browse other pages

As with all my PC problems the most interesting question to me is...'how', if it was working yesterday and not today, when and why did the change occur, and its never an easy job figuring those out

Hi,

Firewalls tend to block ports as well as programs. For example, internet explorer. A normal web site (http) uses port 8080 which seems to be enabled. A secure site such as ebay (https) uses port 4430 which seems to be blocked. PHF uses port 8080 because there is no need for anything secure here, this site is for public viewing.

Also note that some anti-virus and anti-spyware programs can also block programs very much like a firewall can.

Can you try this Norton fix:

- Click "Options"
- Click "Internet Worm Protection"
- Make sure "Enable Internet Worm Protection (recommended)" is checked.
- Click "Trojan Rules"
- Uncheck "Unused Windows Services Block", (all the way at the bottom of the list)
- Click "OK", "OK"