How to Remove a Blocked Website Entry from the Hosts File

Product Version: 6.5.0.0

Overview

This article provides a simple and effective method to manage domain access using the Windows hosts file, specifically focusing on removing blocked website entries via an Endpoint Management (EM) job in Saner CVEM.

The hosts file, located at:C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts allows manual mapping of domain names to IP addresses. Organizations often use it to restrict or redirect access to specific domains. However, there may be scenarios where these entries need to be reviewed or removed to restore normal connectivity.

Using a practical example, this guide walks you through how to remove such an entry using an automated EM job, ensuring minimal manual effort and consistent results across multiple endpoints.

Example Scenario

A test entry was added in the hosts file as follows:

IP Address: 192.168.1.1
Domain: example.com

Hosts file path: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Steps to Remove the Entry Using Saner CVEM

1. Navigate to the EM Console

• Log in to your Saner CVEM console.
• Go to Endpoint Management (EM).

2. Create a New Action

• Click on Action > Network.
• Create a new EM job specifically to remove the targeted hosts file entry.

3. Execute the EM Job

• Deploy the newly created EM job to the targeted device(s).
• Ensure that the job runs on all intended endpoints.

4. Check the Action Status

• Navigate to the Action Status page in the EM console.
• Verify that the EM job shows Success for all targeted devices.

5. Verify the Hosts File on the Device

• Open the hosts file located at: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts 

• Confirm that the entry for the IP address and domain (e.g., 192.168.1.1 example.com) has been successfully removed.

Conclusion

Changes to the hosts file — whether adding new entries or removing existing ones — can be efficiently managed and automated using Saner CVEM. By leveraging EM jobs, administrators can:

• Control domain access across endpoints efficiently.
• Ensure consistency and accuracy in network configuration management.
• Reduce manual effort and improve operational speed.

This approach guarantees that updates to hosts files are applied uniformly across all targeted devices, maintaining a secure and properly functioning network environment.

For further assistance or troubleshooting, please contact SecPod Support.