A possible cause is security software (firewall) that blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.

Remove all rules for Firefox from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.

See:

• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Server+not+found
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Firewalls

If that doesn't help, launch the task manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and check if the process firefox.exe is running. If it is, end the process and start Firefox again.