Adobe Hosts File Block List -

You might get an old version of Adobe CS6 or very early Creative Cloud to work with a Hosts block. For Adobe CC 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025, the Hosts file method is effectively dead for permanent activation.

Adobe Genuine Service (AGS) runs as a separate background process. Blocking its domains via Hosts might delay the pop-up, but AGS also uses local system scans without network calls. Adobe Hosts File Block List

The last "perpetual" Adobe product was CS6 (2012). With Creative Cloud, you are renting access. Without a valid subscription token refreshed via the Adobe Desktop Service, the apps will simply refuse to launch after a grace period—regardless of what your hosts file says. You might get an old version of Adobe