Composer update does not run - linux

Question

When i run composer update it fails showing error:
[Composer\Downloader\TransportException]
The "https://packagist.org/packages.json" file could not be downloaded: failed to open stream:
Connection refused
If i visit the URL from my browser it goes through, when i try to wget or curl the URL from my terminal it shows error:
--2017-02-05 20:41:58-- https://packagist.org/packages.json
Connecting to 127.0.0.1:8888... failed:
Connection refused.
--2017-02-05 20:41:58-- https://packagist.org/packages.json
Connecting to 127.0.0.1:8888... failed: Connection refused.
I think its something with proxy connection, but then i can't seem to solve the issue.
Bellow is the full trace if i run composer update -vv:
Reading ./composer.json
Loading config file ./composer.json
Checked CA file /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt: valid
Executing command (/var/www/gidiscrap): git branch --no-color --no- abbrev -v
Cannot create cache directory /home/oluwaslim/.composer/cache/repo/https---packagist.org/, or directory is not writable. Proceeding without cache
Cannot create cache directory /home/oluwaslim/.composer/cache/files/, or directory is not writable. Proceeding without cache
Failed to initialize global composer: Composer could not find the config file: /home/oluwaslim/.composer/composer.json
To initialize a project, please create a composer.json file as described in the https://getcomposer.org/ "Getting Started" section
Reading /var/www/gidiscrap/vendor/composer/installed.json
Running 1.3.2 (2017-01-27 18:23:41) with PHP 7.0.13-0ubuntu0.16.04.1 on Linux / 4.4.0-59-generic
Loading composer repositories with package information
Downloading https://packagist.org/packages.json using proxy 127.0.0.1:8888
Downloading https://packagist.org/packages.json using proxy 127.0.0.1:8888
Downloading https://packagist.org/packages.json using proxy 127.0.0.1:8888
[Composer\Downloader\TransportException]
The "https://packagist.org/packages.json" file could not be downloaded: failed to open stream: Connection refused
Exception trace:
() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Util/RemoteFilesystem.php:489
Composer\Util\RemoteFilesystem->get() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Util/RemoteFilesystem.php:101
Composer\Util\RemoteFilesystem->getContents() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Repository/ComposerRepository.php:665
Composer\Repository\ComposerRepository->fetchFile() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Repository/ComposerRepository.php:479
Composer\Repository\ComposerRepository->loadRootServerFile() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Repository/ComposerRepository.php:258
Composer\Repository\ComposerRepository->hasProviders() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/DependencyResolver/Pool.php:99
Composer\DependencyResolver\Pool->addRepository() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Installer.php:376
Composer\Installer->doInstall() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Installer.php:223
Composer\Installer->run() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Command/UpdateCommand.php:158
Composer\Command\UpdateCommand->execute() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/vendor/symfony/console/Command/Command.php:257
Symfony\Component\Console\Command\Command->run() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/vendor/symfony/console/Application.php:850
Symfony\Component\Console\Application->doRunCommand() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/vendor/symfony/console/Application.php:193
Symfony\Component\Console\Application->doRun() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Console/Application.php:227
Composer\Console\Application->doRun() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/vendor/symfony/console/Application.php:124
Symfony\Component\Console\Application->run() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/src/Composer/Console/Application.php:100
Composer\Console\Application->run() at phar:///usr/local/bin/composer/bin/composer:54
require() at /usr/local/bin/composer:24
Help would be appriciated! I can't seem to get past this error

Answer 1

Am on Ubuntu Linux 16.04, and below is what i had to do to fix the issue, as i mentiond earlier its some problem with proxy settings.
Step 1
Goto System settings
Network
Network proxy
Change it to none
finally click Apply system wide
Step 2
Open terminal and type the following command.
unset https_proxy && unset socks_proxy && unset ftp_proxy
Finally restart your system. The solution above got the issue solved for me.

Answer 2

The line using proxy 127.0.0.1:8888 suggest a problem with your system. I can guess that's a really aggressive antivirus. You should have no reason to connect to localhost on port 8888 unless you have to connect through proxy. What can you do? Check the antivirus settings and turn off checks for secure connections over HTTPS.