System

The Plucky system feature, when enabled, causes Plucky to integrate more deeply with your device, meaning it will control the Internet access of the device rather than just an Internet browser. It is disabled when Plucky is first installed, but it is expected that most serious users of Plucky will turn it on. When system is disabled, it is easy to bypass Plucky by using a different browser that does not have the Plucky browser extension installed.

How to enable it

1. Click the Plucky button in the top right corner of your browser.
2. Click “config” in the menu at the top.
3. Click the button that says “system: off” or “system: on”.
4. Read the description.
5. Check or uncheck the “enable” box.
6. Click “Apply”.

It can also be enabled or disabled using a console:

pluck + system

pluck - system

Why is it blocking my non-browser apps? (Steam, Discord, Spotify, etc.,?)

Most modern apps are designed to provide as much utility as possible, and to that end they often behave in a way where Plucky might mistake their frequent Internet requests as a sign that the program is a web browser. In the case of Steam, Plucky is absolutely correct for assuming it’s a web browser because Steam has an entire web browser contained within the gaming launcher.

Remember, the purpose of system is to close bypasses, and that includes stopping anything the program thinks could be is a web browser.

How do I allow Steam/Discord/Spotify/etc., then?

The same way you allow blocked websites, but by declaring its a program.

pluck + allow program spotify

The above works if you know for sure your computer calls Spotify spotify.

If unsure, see verdicts and how to allow a program for more help.

How do I allow Steam enough to work the way I want without it being a bypass?

This is the million dollar question. If you cared more about video games than about filtering your Internet, you wouldn’t need a hardcore product like Plucky.

There’re multiple approaches.

1. Use verdicts and how to allow a program to do it manually.
2. Import an app recipe for a single app: https://u.pluckeye.net/configurations/apps
3. Import this config by a Plucky staff member: https://u.pluckeye.net/configurations/194705

Number 3 is the byproduct of Jake rpeeatedly testing programs manually and making the results available to the public to save you time and energy. It contains rules for many common programs (including all of Steam, Discord, Spotify) and restrains them to work without being allowed unfettered access.

Why is system disabled by default?

The system feature is initially turned off mainly as a safety measure. By requiring the user to turn it on it manually, the user is then educated on how to do the reverse as well. And some users find Plucky to be sufficient help for them, even with system turned off.

Windows

With system is enabled on Windows, only supported browsers such as Brave) may be used for browsing the Internet. Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers will not work at all.

macOS

When system is enabled on macOS, Safari will be completely blocked by default.

Linux

When system is enabled on Linux, browsers other than Chromium and Firefox will be slower, overblock the user, and generally be much less useful than Firefox and Chromium. But they will still work in general. Well, with one big exception: Chrome may not work at all, but Chromium should with Plucky 0.50.0 or greater. But see also the important notes on linux.

Levels

The system feature replaced the idea of levels in older versions of Plucky (v0.99.11 and older). Having Plucky installed as a program on your device (not just a browser extension) with system off is equivalent to level 1, and having system on is equivalent to level 2.