diff --git a/src/main/main.cpp b/src/main/main.cpp
index 16d91b0a..2f597b8b 100644
--- a/src/main/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main/main.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@
 #include "qt/TailsOS.h"
 #include "qt/KeysFiles.h"
 #include "qt/MoneroSettings.h"
+#include "qt/NetworkAccessBlockingFactory.h"
 
 // IOS exclusions
 #ifndef Q_OS_IOS
@@ -403,6 +404,7 @@ Verify update binary using 'shasum'-compatible (SHA256 algo) output signed by tw
 
     QQmlApplicationEngine engine;
 
+    engine.setNetworkAccessManagerFactory(new NetworkAccessBlockingFactory);
     OSCursor cursor;
     engine.rootContext()->setContextProperty("globalCursor", &cursor);
     OSHelper osHelper;
diff --git a/src/qt/NetworkAccessBlockingFactory.h b/src/qt/NetworkAccessBlockingFactory.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..16cbc7f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/qt/NetworkAccessBlockingFactory.h
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/* Ricochet - https://ricochet.im/
+ * Copyright (C) 2014, John Brooks <john.brooks@dereferenced.net>
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ *    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ *      copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ *      in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *      distribution.
+ *
+ *    * Neither the names of the copyright owners nor the names of its
+ *      contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ *      this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+/* Through the QQmlNetworkAccessManagerFactory below, all network requests
+ * created via QML will be passed to this object; including, for example,
+ * <img> tags parsed in rich Text items.
+ *
+ * Ricochet's UI does not directly cause network requests for any reason. These
+ * are always a potentially deanonymizing bug. This object will block them,
+ * and assert if appropriate.
+ */
+#include <QDebug>
+
+class BlockedNetworkAccessManager : public QNetworkAccessManager
+{
+public:
+    BlockedNetworkAccessManager(QObject *parent)
+        : QNetworkAccessManager(parent)
+    {
+        setProxy(QNetworkProxy(QNetworkProxy::Socks5Proxy, QLatin1String("0.0.0.0"), 0));
+    }
+
+protected:
+    virtual QNetworkReply *createRequest(Operation op, const QNetworkRequest &req, QIODevice *outgoingData = 0)
+    {
+        qCritical() << "QML attempted to load a network resource from" << req.url() << " - this is potentially an input sanitization flaw.";
+        return QNetworkAccessManager::createRequest(op, QNetworkRequest(), outgoingData);
+    }
+};
+
+class NetworkAccessBlockingFactory : public QQmlNetworkAccessManagerFactory
+{
+public:
+    virtual QNetworkAccessManager *create(QObject *parent)
+    {
+        return new BlockedNetworkAccessManager(parent);
+    }
+};