HostsMan
HostsMan is an open-source host file manager for Windows that allows you to easily edit your hosts file to block ads, trackers, malware, and unwanted sites. It provides a user-friendly GUI to add, remove, enable, or disable host entries.
hosts-file
ad-blocking
privacy
security
HostsMan: Open-Source Host File Manager for Windows
Block ads, trackers, malware, and unwanted sites with an easy-to-use GUI and open-source host file manager for Windows.
What is HostsMan?
HostsMan is a free, open-source application for Windows that makes it easy to manage your system's hosts file. The hosts file maps domain names to IP addresses and can be used to block ads, tracking networks, malware sites, and other unwanted content.
Key features of HostsMan include:
- Intuitive graphical user interface for editing hosts entries
- Import, export, enable, disable or remove entries with a click
- Built-in hosts files from well-known sources to block ads, tracking, etc.
- Validation check ensures entries are formatted correctly
- Lightweight, portable, and does not require installation
- Free and open-source software with no ads or tracking
By leveraging your hosts file with HostsMan, you can customize web access for all browsers and programs on your Windows PC. It gives you control over connections from apps that otherwise ignore typical privacy settings. Since entries are loaded directly into a system file, it blocks unwanted content system-wide with no browser extensions needed.
Overall, HostsMan simplifies modifying your hosts file by providing user-friendly management tools. With robust blocking from reputable hosts file sources built-in, it's an excellent tool for protecting devices across your network.
HostsMan Features
Features
- User-friendly GUI for editing hosts file
- Ability to easily block ads, trackers, malware sites
- Add, remove, enable or disable host entries
- Import and export host lists
- Support for wildcards and regular expressions
- Multiple host profiles for different configurations
- Built-in hosts sources and auto-updating
- Portable version available
- Open source and free
Pricing
- Open Source
- Free
Pros
Easy to use interface
Powerful ad and malware blocking
Flexible host management
Extendable with plugins
Lightweight and fast
Free and open source
Cons
Manual updates required
Limited to editing hosts file only
No browser integration
Windows only
Official Links
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