Wi-Fi connects but won't allow Firefox of Thunderbird unless it's a secured network.?

Question

At a hotel they had an unsecured wireless. I get a connection but Firefox and Thunderbird won't work. I have checked this out at several other locations and find that in each case if it is a secured connection and I put a password in, all is ok. The computer is connecting and my Skype will work.
It sounds like a security blocker but I don't know who or where.
Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Hotels often use "Secure connections" for their guests.

If they didn't, people would go elsewhere.