I keep getting this error in Firefox; what is the problem?

It’s not possible to say without some troubleshooting to pin down the cause, but if it is happening in both Firefox and IE, you can pretty much set the browser aside. It is likely deeper that that. Since it is happening on lots of different sites, you can pretty much eliminate the sites being too busy also. So that leaves your network connection and issues to do with proxy settings and firewall. Look to those issues.

Could be a problem with your local connection, or elsewhere in the network, including with your internet service provider. If you want to have a little fun, you could download VisualRoute Lite for free, it’s quite simple, just type in an internet address and hit enter and it will show you every computer/router you connect to along the path to that site. It will also tell you where there are connection problems. You hover your mouse on a point in the network (representing a computer) and it will tell you the percentage of packet loss at that point, a sign of a problem (there should be none). This can tell you where the problem is so you at least know that it’s not in your home, for example, and you need to call your ISP.

@Snarp For fuck’s sake the link you sent me won’t load either! (It sounds pretty awesome, too). I just tried to load these non-working sites on a different computer and they won’t load on that one either…and that one is running linux. I don’t think I have a firewall. I’m gonna have to call the ISP I think. I just can’t think of anything else that could be wrong on my end…..

Try typing the IP address for your router, if you have one (you do if you’re wireless) into the browser and see what happens (what is your router’s IP). You should get a log in prompt, or a menu of router configuration options. That means you are connected to your router properly. Check the indicator lights on the router and any modem you have to make sure they show a connection. (It’s a good idea to be familiar with these so you know when something is wrong there). If some sites work and not others it is quite likely to be a problem in the network outside your house, maybe with your ISP and maybe past them, you shhould probably give them a call. If it was all sites I would recommend that you turn off your computer and unplug your router and modem. Leave them unplugged for ten minutes, then plug them back in, wait until they stop blinking and have the normal indicator lights, then fire up your computer and try again.

Connection resets can happen at any intervening server. The first thing to try is renewing your router’s IP addy. If it’s happening because of congestion in your ISP’s network, the DNS servers most likely, there isn’t much you can do from your end. Switch ISP’s maybe. If you have more than one computer in your house, you’ll want to see if it’s happening on all of them.

The problem ended up being the router was filtering out certain websites. Switching the router out fixed it finally. Thanks for all the answers everyone!