socket error

A socket error is a network-related issue that occurs when a program cannot establish or maintain a connection through a socket, often due to firewall interference, system updates, or server problems. On Windows, common socket errors include error 10061 (connection refused) and errno 9 (bad file descriptor). These can arise after Windows updates like KB4580980, where users report socket creation failures and process hangs. Security software such as Norton may also block socket connections, leading to errors in email clients or upload services. Troubleshooting steps include disabling security software temporarily, checking firewall settings, or rebooting the system to resolve intermittent socket errors.