no you are pretty much correct, it would be under control panel, but if i may ask, what OS are you running on, becuase i had a similar problem where i couldnt access some secure sites, and it was becuase of firewalls, just as justingh said.

and since it has to do with a ports as you said, then if your OS is XP, do this to add programs to run and to open and except ports.

1st, go to control panel
2nd, go to windows firewall
Then, click on the Exceptions tab and make sure that your version of IE is checked off.
Then if its the port situation, then continue on the Exceptions tab except you will see a little button near the very bottom middle...click on add ports. then for the name, type in a name that you would normally see like the name of the site or whatever you choose, then type in the IP adresses of the sites you cannot access.

if you still have a problem, please let us know

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What is a physical body. The body is merely an object. It is a form of existence far too impure to store the gods within us called souls. Now you will remember. The bloodstained history. Material desire. Hunger. Sexual Drive. Desire to dominate. Desire for fame. Humanity. As long as there is a body, desires will be born. The human ego will never disappear as long as desire remains present. Humans will continue to fight to fulfill their bodies desires and it will never end. At this rate there is no future.