VPN preventing flatpacks from opening (DNF, Firefox, librefox, zotero etc)?

Hi

I originally posted here for DNF and Firefox and found a resolution in editing the NSS file:

I have since installed a number of softwares which are having the same issue (long start times when vpn active and immediately start when vpn is disconnected) and are not resolved by the above. These include zotero (citation manager), librefox (Firefox fork).

The only commonality I am seeing is that they are flat packs.

Do these packages call back to flat hub when they start? Any suggestions?