This single-function tool opens your Windows Hosts file for editing, but offers little and crashes during saves. Win Hosts File Editor's bare-bones interface mimics Notepad with a single function: save. The Hosts file associates URLs with specific IP addresses. Many users use it to block select URLs from opening. With a basic context menu of Cut, Copy, Paste, and Select All, editing is similar to Notepad. To edit the Hosts file, this executable needs five times the memory required by Notepad. The application's sole advantage is a text line that alerts the user that the Hosts file has been edited. Our tests found the utility often crashed when saving the Hosts file. We can't see how this program offers anything over a shortcut to the Hosts file. Though it's simple enough for all user levels, this freeware brings nothing beneficial to the table.
As it say's, it allows you to edit the hosts file from the etc directory in XP. Fine, but...
Cons
It does not allow you to save. You have to changes the properties of the HOSTS file so it is not: 'read only'. Mght as well use ANY editor! And most people don't know where the actual HOSTS file is that Windows uses.
Summary
If they take care of, & automate the read only properties of the file after changes are made, then this can prove to be a super useful application that takes but 'bits' of space. Altering your HOSTS file is (in my mind) one of the most POWERFUL ways of stopping intrusion, bad advertisements & anything that annoys from finding it's way to your pc. Blocking sites using the HOSTS file should be a first line of defense cause it can hold all the cards.
If one has to find the HOSTS file to change it's properties manually they might as well utilize ANY text editor, cause the steps this app can save just doubled the work instead of making life easier.
I was really hoping this app was going to do it all, the 2 or 3 basic steps. It doesn't. But if it ever does, I would give it 100 thumbs up for a utility that is actually useful in protecting ourselves.
I'm fairly certain it would find the HOSTS file (in use by the OS) in any version of Windows. But it still needs to adapt the ability to turn of & on the read only properties.
I realize all HOSTS files are not always READ ONLY, but any person with a bit of sense of a secure system would have the HOSTS file in a READ ONLY state.
Access and modify your Windows Hosts file easily.Get to your Windows HOSTS file with the click of a button (quick launch shortcut or desktop shortcut). This simple editor saves you the time of having to navigate to your HOSTS file manually. The editor also notifies you when unsaved changes exist.