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Since the computer doesn’t recognize pictures or even websites as we do, it must have a mechanism it uses to process our demands. Sure enough it’s done through codes, while for Internet connections, Windows reads the HOSTS file, which can also act as a blacklist. To edit this file the easy way, you can use applications like HOSTEdit.

A neat advantage is that you don’t have to go through a setup process to make the application work, which means it can be carried around on a USB flash drive to edit HOSTS file on other computers as well. What’s more, system registries remain intact, because they’re not a dependency, thus keeping the target PC clean.

The main window is neatly organized, allowing you to quickly feel at home. The default HOSTS file is automatically imported, and you can manage lines with a set of dedicated tools. These are used to remove, edit, or add new entries, with easy processing allowing you to choose when to add host, comment, or blank line.

However, it’s advisable to create a backup before editing anything at all. This can be done by saving to a plain TXT file on your computer, or one of the built-in wizard tools. Other such tools include removing blank lines, all comments, spaces from end of entries, counting HOSTS, checking for duplicates, and more.

If you happen to already have a custom HOSTS file you simply want to implement, you can load it through the open function. A few document management options can visually tweak content, such as sorting.

Taking everything into consideration, we can say that HOSTEdit is a practical little utility you can carry around on a removable flash drive to edit or implement different HOSTS files on more computers. Editing is easily done, with the default file automatically loaded, but also options to create backups, or import existing alternatives.