User cannot perform any interaction with eBay through eBay Blackthorne. Another symptom may be the automatic check for updates under Help|Check for Updates and Messages does not work.
A firewall is a security program that runs on most users machines. A firewall prevents unauthorized connections with the Internet. For eB to get information from eBay, it must be able to access eBay through the firewall. If your firewall does not grant the proper permissions, then eB cannot submit listings or perform any other type of interaction with eBay.
Following are the settings necessary for some of the more common firewall applications.
http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/
1. Open Norton Internet Security logged in as Supervisor.
2. Select the “Personal Firewall” section on the main page, and then click the “Configure” button to open the Program Control page.
3. Select the “Program Control” tab to access Manual Program Control options.
4. Scroll and locate eBay Blackthorne or click “Add” to add eBay Blackthorne (C:\Program Files\eBay\Blackthorne).
5. Set Blackthorne to “Permit”
6. Click “OK” to close Program Control.
http://www.nai.com/us/support/
1. Open McAfee Firewall.
2. Under the Tasks heading, click “Configuration Assistant”.
3. Click “Next” in the Configuration Assistant screen until you see the "Control Internet Programs"
4. Scroll and locate eBay Blackthorne or click “Browse” to add eBay Blackthorne (C:\Program Files\eBay\Blackthorne)
5. Select the "Allow this program to have full unfiltered access to the Internet" option.
6. Click “Apply” to save the setting.
If you followed the steps above and still having a connection issue, you'll have to uninstall Blackthorne, remove Blackthorne from McAfee's Program Permissions list, and then reinstall Blackthorne.
http://www.zonelabs.com/
1. Open ZoneAlarm.
2. On the left column click Program Control.
3. Select the “Programs” tab.
4. Locate eBay Blackthorne and be sure it has a green check beside it.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfexceptions.mspx
1. From your Desktop, click “Start” and then click “Control Panel”.
2. In the control panel, click “Security Center”, and then click “Windows Firewall”.
3. In the Windows Firewall dialog box, click the "Exceptions" tab, and then click "Add Program"
4. In the "Add a Program" dialog box, scroll and locate eBay Blackthorne or click “Browse” to add eBay Blackthorne (C:\Program
Files\eBay\Blackthorne)
5. After you select eBay Blackthorne, click OK.
6. On the Exceptions tab, make sure that the check box next to eBay Blackthorne is selected, and then click OK.
It is also possible other software may be "protecting" your connection. The following software applications are known do to this:
System Suite 6: Make sure auto email scan is off, or it may prevent eB from making a connection.
All versions of eBay Blackthorne.
Please note that various firewall procedures do change. Still, these instructions should give you the general idea.