diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 72f9189..4f6c186 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ let globalAccountName = null
 const peer = require('secret-stack/bare')()
   .use(require('secret-stack/plugins/net'))
   .use(require('secret-handshake-ext/secret-stack'))
-  .use(require('ssb-conn'))
+  .use(require('ppppp-net'))
   .use(require('ppppp-db'))
   .use(require('ppppp-set'))
   .use(require('ppppp-dict'))
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ const peer = require('secret-stack/bare')()
         },
       },
     },
-    conn: {
-      autostart: false,
+    net: {
+      autostart: true,
     },
   })
 
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ function createWindow() {
   mainWindow.loadURL(startUrl)
 
   mainWindow.webContents.openDevTools({ mode: 'bottom', activate: true })
+
+  // open Web URLs in the default system browser
+  mainWindow.webContents.on('new-window', (ev, url) => {
+    ev.preventDefault()
+    shell.openExternal(url)
+  })
 }
 
 async function loadAccount() {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3b5f55b..de8db65 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
     "ppppp-hub-client": "github:staltz/ppppp-hub-client",
     "ppppp-invite": "github:staltz/ppppp-invite",
     "ppppp-keypair": "github:staltz/ppppp-keypair",
+    "ppppp-net": "github:staltz/ppppp-net",
     "ppppp-promise": "github:staltz/ppppp-promise",
     "ppppp-set": "github:staltz/ppppp-set",
     "ppppp-sync": "github:staltz/ppppp-sync",
@@ -35,7 +36,6 @@
     "react-scripts": "5.0.1",
     "secret-handshake-ext": "0.0.11",
     "secret-stack": "8.0.0",
-    "ssb-conn": "6.0.4",
     "web-vitals": "^2.1.4"
   },
   "devDependencies": {