Can't access the web but can screen share and secure shell on my network???

Question

Hi,
I don't know if this is relevant, but I installed a security patch along with a safari patch the other day and the next morning, I could not access the internet, however I can do things like screen share and ssh. I cannot however view internal websites on my network, whether I'm connected via airport or ethernet cable (attached to either time capsule or the modem directly). Whenever I try to go to a website in either firefox or Safari, I get a message saying I'm not connected to the internet and a "Network Diagnostics" button (which says it cannot fix my problem). Here is what I've tried:
-Repair Disk (everything OK)
-Repair Permissions
-Restart computer
-Turn Airport card off then on
-Restart modem and routers, one by one in daisy chain order (and then restarted computer)
-Tried different browsers
-Tried connecting directly to modem via Ethernet cable in addition to wireless
-Restored the System from a time-capsule backup from Sept. 6th (noticed the problem on the 10th)
-Turned off my firewall
-Created a new user account and tried it
-Let my computer remain off for a half hour
-Zapped the p-ram
Here's what I've confirmed I CAN'T do:
-Access the web via either Safari or firefox (haven't tried any other browsers)
-Access the Software Update Server
-My iCal calendars cannot access the webdav server
Surprisingly, here's what I've confirmed I CAN do:
-Ping other computers on my network
-Use the Screen Sharing App. with computers on my network
-Access the internet from every other computer on my network (4 of them)
-ssh to other computers on my network
I've been using my computer infrequently lately, and I'm not sure when the last time was I accessed the internet or for that matter when I performed the security patching, but I'm pretty sure it was within the last week and a half. I really don't want to try restoring from an earlier backup, but I'm reaching the end of my rope. Anyone have any other ideas? I'm fresh out.
Rob

Answer 1

The problem was either the Security Patch 2010-005 or the Safari update (though I don't have the version number in front of me). Note, I had ignored the iTunes 10 update. I assume that I must have miscalculated the date I performed the updates because the problem persisted after restore from a Sept. 6th backup off my time capsule.
I went to the Apple Store and they were able to restore full internet access by performing a 10.5.8 combo-update. When we ran Software Update at the Apple Store, the 3 updates were again there available for download, but I am going to ignore them all because of this issue. The people at the apple store agreed that it was the update which caused the problem.
Rob