Blocked port 80

[xyeta]

My laptop only partially connects to the internet. Whether wired network or wi-fi, I connect ok, and messenger progs launch and connect. IE does not surf.

I think this is some spyware residue, as it coincided with a desktop theme download that SpyBot S&D cleaned later.

My problem is, how do I unblock port 80? Evidently it is not a feature found in the Control Panel group of services.

I was thinking of re-installing MSIE or another browser, hoping it would see the problem and correct it. Is this a reasonable expectation?

Any suggestions? Is my diagnosis accurate?

TIA!!

[ASK]

if you're using xp or 2k, go to Network Connections > Properties (for the NIC) > Advanced > Options > TCP/IP Filtering > Properties. See if the filtering option is checked, and what ports are listed.

IPSEC protocols may also be blocking your IE, but I don't know enough about that.

Incidentally, I have a server on which I use TCP/IP Filtering as part of its security. The only way to allow IE to work on the server was to uncheck the filtering and restart. But I added a second NIC so I could connect to the server via LAN. I'd like to also use that second NIC to enable IE to surf, but for some reason I still have to disable filtering on both NIC's in order to do so (and it seems that the IE traffic is still going through the first NIC - which I want only IIS to use). Any advice?

[meir87]

Are you sure your problem is not DNS? Try opening IE (and I strongly suggest you switch to Firefox later) and go to http://216.239.57.99 if that works then your problem is most definitely DNS. Just call your ISP and ask them for the IPs to their DNS.

[xyeta]

Thanks for the advice..... I'll give these options a look.

ASK, you have helped me in the past, thanks for being there again!


Meir87... I have tried it a a couple of different wi-fi access spots, and a wired LAN.... no connections anywhere for internet. P:robably not DNS, then, huh?

[meir87]

I've also seen this problem with severe spyware victims. Try installing Ad-Aware (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/adaware.html) and Microsoft's Beta Spyware Remover (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=321CD7A2-6A57-4C57-A8BD-DBF62EDA9671&displaylang=en) and then running both to see if either picks up anything (no single program gets them all). There is also SpySweeper (http://www.webroot.com/products/spysweeper/?rc=1651) but that one is not free. Sometimes even when using all of these programs the spyware is still impossible to completely remove at which point it is easier to format and start over.

[xyeta]

Good call, meir87. I use spybot S&D, and I am fairly sure that is what caused my problem. I downloaded and installed a desktop theme, and things went bad. After a Spybot scan, I had 5-6 new 'mal-wares.' After the scan and clean, and another scan to make sure I was spyware free, I hoped the problem would be corrected...but no such luck. I'll advise..... and much thanks for the help!!

[TheBigBradWolf]

also once you get it running C:\windows\hosts or C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts depending on your operating system. There are many HOSTS files available on the internet that block bad domains...larger ones cause problems with modem internet connections but work very well with LANS blocking malicious stuff and banner adds but they leave an ugly 404 error there sometimes but banner adds aren't pretty either.

http://thebigbradwolf.gotdns.com/hosts.txt is where my hosts file is I did not write it, but it works quite well...(it's a large file for a text file) I've linked it this way because I"m sure the board will sensor it...don't read the domain names just copy and paste.