I've been having that same issue since late last night and all day today. It had worked perfectly earlier in the evening. I get the exact same message as already described .... "Internet Explorer cannot open internet site https://www.gtplanet.net" Then just below that, but in the same box, it says "Operation aborted". This message takes a moment to display, usually just prior to the pop up box with the ad just above the recent thread listings. It does the same thing on my wife's computer but not my PS3. I've tried everything including disabling my AVG security and firewall and nothing helped. I added the site to my "Trusted Sites" in Windows Security ... all to no avail.
Then just now, before the error message appeared (before the pop up box filled in) I quickly clicked on the link to this thread and somehow, it went through and allowed me to make this post. Other than this, the main page locks up with that error message with the only option in the box as "OK" which when you click it, takes you back to the generic Explorer page that displays anytime a web site does not display.
I think it may have something to do with the ad that begins to appear in the box at upper right. The error message always appears immediately prior to that ad filling in.
The link you provided allowed me to download the update as required and now everything is back to normal 
