pidgin-2.10.11-alt2 As root: service NetworkManager stop I have a configured and working wired Ethernet interface managed with etcnet. As a user: pidgin Result: NetworkManager is started and additional unwanted interfaces are configured. Suggestion: probably, it sends a request for network through D-Bus; it should know about etcnet and the fact that my network interface is already up. (I have experienced the same problem with Firefox... or chromium. I'll write about it after a test, too.)