I was trying to get information and a report on hearing aids. Entering
"Hearing aids" on google.com directed me to a  site:
"Hearing Aid Ratings Guide
www.hearingplanet.com/hearing-aids      Compare all Hearing Aid
Brands.  Digital Hearing Aids - Free Report." This url has a site
saying:
"I want to Download the Buyer?s Guide" which offers a report, but you
have to fill out a questionaire to get it. After filling out this
questionaire and hitting "submit" a message appears about a "Firewall"
not letting me to submit and which I should disable. Does Norton
internet security control what I can see on the internet and what I
cannot, and if so how can I overcome this interferance without
exposing myself to a virus? I am sure this site contains neither a
virus nor pornography.
Does anybody know what the "firewall" is, how do you disable it, and how
safe is it to disable it?

I am not a Researcher but I can offer these small bits.
First, Norton Internet Security (NIS) is a suite that includes a
firewall. I believe you mentioned in another question you had WIN98SE
which has no native firewall. You NEED the firewall. Absolutely.

NIS includes a feature called Privacy Control that tries to warn you
if certain private information is transmitted outbound from your
computer.  The usual example is SSN.  Somewhere in NIS you may have a
"mask" that specifies 6 of the 9 SSN digits of your SSN. Or your
street address, or phone number.
If ever those 6 numbers are attempting to be sent NIS will try to save
you.  Normally, that is a good thing but it can get in the way of
legit traffic.

I don't use NIS so I tried to re-produce your condition. I did not get
the warning indicating that it is something specific to your NIS
configuration, something that *may* be slightly too cautious.  But
better safe than sorry.
 

I went to the link you provided and filled in the request form with
fictious information.  You know, Fred Flintstone, Bedrock etc.  The
only "real" value was an actual ZIP code. But not mine.  Once filled
in, the form will allow you to view the Guide in PDF format.  I got no
danger warnings so I think it is safe. I presume that you have Acrobat
Reader already on your computer so that it can display the PDF-format
file on your computer.  Once displayed, you can SAVE it to disk.


Obviously, if this company sells Hearing Aids and you provide your
legit contact info then they will have all your private details. 
Using fake contact is a way to protect your privacy until YOU decide
to BUY from them.  It is also a way to keep NIS from warning you about
private info.

So, I would suggest that you try again using fake contact info. 
At your leisure inspect NIS to see what is setup in Privacy Controls.
If you can't get THAT one Hearing aid guide, simply bypass them and
select from other sites in the Google hit parade.

Thanks for your answer and advice. It is sad to live in a world where
ligitimate information cannot be obtained except by sending fictitious
information. But that seems to be the game we have to play by. I will
try your trick. It might not work since you don't and I do have Norton
Internet Security.