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1. Open TextEdit as sudo

    sudo -b /System/Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit
   

2. Open /etc/hosts in this new TextEdit instance using any of the following methods:

   • Append the path to the end of the previous command
   • Use File → Open
   • Drag the file to the sudo'd TextEdit on the Dock

Alternatively, you can edit in Terminal using nano:

SUDO_EDITOR=nano sudo -e /etc/hosts

Using sudo -e ensures that temporary files etc. are handled in the proper way and you don't run into permission issues with them. nano is a simple console-based editor which is quite user-friendly.