The globe to the left of the address indicates an HTTP address instead of an HTTPS address. It simply reports on the connection security level and doesn't cause things to happen on its own.

So if you were to try this address, Firefox would redirect to a pixel gif??

http://www.livenation.com/artists/41423/bruce-springsteen

or trying to get to a secure version

https://www.livenation.com/artists/41423/bruce-springsteen (for me, this redirects to the above address)

If this problem doesn't happen with direct links but happens when you click search engine results, could you indicate which search site you are using?

. Hi thanks for the response to my question. Whatever the case may be, I have never had this issue before with Firefox. I don't like that I can not open links that come in emails, some direct links or when I do a search on Google (Yahoo was worse it seemed). Feel like a kid with parental control. These are trusted sites I'm going to. Very frustrating...grrr

If content is being blocked, normally you would see one of two things:

(1) An error page with an explanation (2) A "shield" icon at the left end of the address bar

Getting a GIF would be more consistent with following a tracking link that is supposed to redirect to the real address but the redirect is broken. If you look in the address bar when this happens, can you see a tracking-type URL? For example:

http://massmailingvendor/?reallink=http://theactualsite

Sometimes if a tracking redirect stalls, clicking in the address bar and pressing Enter will finish the job.

If the past seeing a 1x1 GIF image has been caused by an anti banner setting in Kaspersky.

• Kaspersky: Protection > Firewall > Filtration system: disable the "Banner Ad Blocker"

So if you use such software then check its settings.

Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test.

• http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/

It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.

Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full, unrestricted, access to install for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.

See:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Server+not+found
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Firewalls

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/fix-problems-connecting-websites-after-updating