How do I edit the hosts file for Verax Protect?

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In some deployments, Verax Protect requires redirecting AI tool domains to the Verax server using the system hosts file.

⚠️ Editing the hosts file requires administrator/root privileges.

Before proceeding, retrieve the required domain mappings from:

Verax Console → Settings → Traffic Redirect → Web Proxy

Copy the entries exactly as shown in your console.

Windows

Hosts File Location

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Step 1 – Open Notepad as Administrator

  1. Click Start

  2. Type Notepad

  3. Right-click Notepad

  4. Select Run as administrator

  5. Click Yes on the UAC prompt

Step 2 – Open the Hosts File

  1. In Notepad, click File → Open

  2. Navigate to: 

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\

  1. In the bottom-right dropdown, change:

    • Text Documents (*.txt) → All Files

  2. Select the file named hosts

  3. Click Open

Step 3 – Add Verax Entries

Scroll to the bottom of the file and paste the entries copied from:

Verax Console → Settings → Traffic Redirect → Web Proxy

Do not modify the domain names unless instructed.

Step 4 – Save the File

Click File → Save

If you receive a permission error, ensure Notepad was opened as Administrator.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

  1. Click Start

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right-click Command Prompt

  4. Select Run as administrator

Run:

ipconfig /flushdns

You should see:

Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

macOS

Hosts File Location

/etc/hosts

Step 1 – Open Terminal

Press:

Cmd + Space

Search for Terminal and open it.

Step 2 – Edit the Hosts File

Run:

sudo nano /etc/hosts

Enter your administrator password when prompted.

(Note: The password will not be visible as you type.)

Step 3 – Add Verax Entries

Scroll to the bottom of the file.

Paste the entries copied from:

Verax Console → Settings → Traffic Redirect → Web Proxy

Step 4 – Save and Exit

Press:

  • Ctrl + O → press Enter (save)

  • Ctrl + X (exit)

Step 5 – Flush DNS Cache

Run:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

No output is expected.

Linux

Hosts File Location

/etc/hosts

Step 1 – Open Terminal

Step 2 – Edit the Hosts File

Run:

sudo nano /etc/hosts

(You may use vim instead of nano if preferred.)

Enter your root password when prompted.

Step 3 – Add Verax Entries

Scroll to the bottom of the file and paste the entries copied from:

Verax Console → Settings → Traffic Redirect → Web Proxy

Step 4 – Save and Exit

For nano:

  • Ctrl + O → Enter

  • Ctrl + X

Step 5 – Flush DNS Cache (If Required)

Depending on distribution:

For systemd-based systems:

sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches

Or restart networking:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Verification

After completing the steps:

  1. Open a browser.

  2. Access one of the redirected domains.

  3. Verify traffic is being routed through Verax (as shown in your Interactions dashboard).

Important Notes

  • Always copy the entries directly from your Verax console.

  • Incorrect entries may break access to AI tools.

  • For enterprise environments, consider managing hosts entries via:

    • Group Policy (Windows)

    • Intune / JAMF (macOS)

    • Configuration management tools (Linux)