AFAIK abp does work by simulating a VPN on your system and therefore being able to block all resources channeled through this VPN. I don't know if that counts a

AFAIK abp does work by simulating a VPN on your system and therefore being able to block all resources channeled through this VPN. I don't know if that counts as system level. In comparison: Adaway (which needs root) edits the hosts file to block network requests on a system level.