Type about:preferences#advanced<Enter> in the address bar.

Under Advanced, Select Network.

[v56+] Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. Look for Network. +++++++++++++++++++++ Look for Configure How Firefox Connects and press the Settings button. If you are using a proxy, make sure those settings are correct. If there is no proxy, first try No Proxy. If there is a problem, then try System Proxy.

Some problems occur when your Internet security program was set to trust the previous version of Firefox, but no longer recognizes your updated version as trusted. Now how to fix the problem: To allow Firefox to connect to the Internet again;

• Make sure your Internet security software is up-to-date (i.e. you are running the latest version).
• Remove Firefox from your program's list of trusted or recognized programs. For detailed instructions, see

Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet {web link}

Hi Fred, yes I have already tried these and all the obvious things. There are only 2 machines on the peer-to-peer network they have both their settings exactly the same as far as I can see but one of them refuses to connect to any website - whereas IE on same machine can and emails are OK - just firefox! Turned off firewall (Zonealarm) still no!

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link}

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

Start your Computer in safe mode with network support. Then start Firefox. Try Secure websites. Is the problem still there?

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode Starting Any Computer In Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia

Can you do a DNS lookup via the about:networking page?

I think this is what you mean - YES I can get an ip number by typing in say www.google.com