Strange connection issue...maybe you can help?

[cosmic925]

Its a XP laptop. Wireless connection. Firefox and Outlook can get online perfectly, surfing is fast and email downloads just as fast. Everything seems great.

With the exception that any applications that attempt to access the internet receive strange errors. Examples include my virus scanner not being able to contact its server for an update, iTunes not being able to access the iPods updates, Yahoo messenger fails to log on (not a username/password issue), Safari Beta wont connect for anything etc.

What can cause the apps not to see the internet connection? I have thought back and I cannot recall when it exactly started happening.

Any ideas?

 

[Law]

I would assume a firewall.

 

[simple]

yes a firewall maybe the problem. also your laptop could be infected by some virus or spyware or adware which is preventing your antivirus from updating.
i would suggest that you get a good antivirus (with updated definitions) on another medium like cd and scan your entire machine. Also scan for spyware and adware programs.
ad aware is a good software.
also try this ( i use it too on windows.)==>spyware terminator

hope this helps. c ya!!