Adobe modifies hosts file to detect whether Creative Cloud is installed

5 hours ago

Adobe Creative Cloud modifies the hosts file to detect installation by redirecting a DNS entry to its server, originally using localhost until Chrome blocked Local Network Access.
The practice is criticized as invasive, likened to malware or the Sony/BMG rootkit scandal, raising concerns about system integrity and data loss due to poor-quality, AI-generated code.
Discussions highlight the dangers of AI-assisted development, where inexperienced developers may trust flawed code without proper review, while experienced developers can identify and correct errors.
Critics argue such modifications should be illegal, as third-party software should not alter system-level files, and note cleanup tools exist to block Adobe's extensive hosts file entries.
The hosts file contains hundreds of Adobe-related entries, with cleanup tools like Chris Titus' script listing around 900 lines to block Adobe services, which may break functionality if used.

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