HostsShield

There are many websites on the Internet which you should avoid. They can house malware and adware or inappropriate content for you or for children. Windows comes with a blacklist which you can populate with such websites, but it can be hard to reach, especially for inexperienced users. A simpler solution is to use HostsShield. It comes with its own list, with countless unsafe websites. The software can modify your system's existing hosts file to block the websites and the best part is that it all takes a single click.

HostsShield is distributed as a freeware application, for all modern Windows platforms. Its setup file is less than one MB and its components can be installed in just a few seconds. There are no complicated settings to make and there is no need to install any prerequisite tools or services.

The application comes with a compact user interface, with one large button and a few check boxes. All you have to do is click the large button and your system's hosts file will be modified immediately. As a result, no one will be able to reach certain less-reputable websites. This is particularly useful if you have children and you wish to make sure they don't access content they shouldn't.

If you want to restore the hosts file, you simply need to click the large button a second time. Besides enabling or disabling the host protection feature, you can also set the application to run automatically at Windows startup if you need to. Furthermore, you can view its list of blacklisted hosts and add your own addresses if you wish to avoid certain places that are not included in the database.

Protecting your computer and its users from harmful and inappropriate websites can be done with a single click when using HostsShield.