How to block Adobe

GlassWire Help
1

After re-installing both Windows and Glasswire i had set Glasswire up on Ask to connect . Adobe (Acrobat Pro) tried to connect twice, both times i denied. About a day or two later i changed over to Click-to-block. That was about a week and several days ago.

Today there is a notice on my computer telling me that there is an Adobe update ready to install.

Yes, i know i need to buy a new pdf handler, but in the meantime, is there any way using Glasswire can automatically block this idiot program and my not having to sit over this computer like a mother hen while it is on “Ask to connect” to block anything that initiates from Adobe?

I swear that they should now be considered a virus. Adobe has gone far beyond helpful and has become invasive, apparently deliberately finding ways to circumvent people blocking the software from calling home.

Thank you for your help!

2

I think, Adobe Update uses Windows Update services (Delivery Optimisation?) to download. So you have to block SvcHost.exe

3

No, it uses it’s own update process. I’ve never heard of Windows Update providing updates for non-Microsoft applications.

You can block the updater app in GlassWire by clicking on the “Acrobat Update Service” entry in GlassWire Protect and selecting Block App.

Alternatively, you can disable the Adobe Acrobat Update Task in Task Scheduler.

4

Adobe updater can use BITS service:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-reader-discussions/quot-update-failed-manually-trying-to-check-for-updates-in-64-bit-adobe-acrobat-reader-document/m-p/14060855#:~:text=After%20noting%20the%20time%20of%20one%20such,the%20executable%20file%20C:\Program%20Files%20(x86)\Common%20Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\armsvc.exe.

5

Interesting, so the Adobe Update app has been coded to interface with the BITs service. This component would indeed run via svchost.exe.

I would imagine that the Update app still needs Internet access to check for and initiate downloads using BITs. So hopefully blocking it will prevent this. Failing that, disable the task, you wouldn’t want to block svhost as that will have system-wide implications.

6

@tnodir

On my laptop:

- I blocked Internet access for svchost.exe

- I allowed Internet access for TCP ports 80 & 443 for \svchost\bits