diff --git a/projects/msp-tools/msp-audit-scripts/workstation_audit.ps1 b/projects/msp-tools/msp-audit-scripts/workstation_audit.ps1
index fbcaa03..1bfa404 100644
--- a/projects/msp-tools/msp-audit-scripts/workstation_audit.ps1
+++ b/projects/msp-tools/msp-audit-scripts/workstation_audit.ps1
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 # never rename without bumping Schema Version.
 # ============================================================
 
-$ScriptVersion       = "2.0.1"
+$ScriptVersion       = "2.0.2"
 $ScriptSchemaVersion = "2.0"
 $ScriptBuildDate     = "2026-04-17"
 
@@ -1969,11 +1969,12 @@ try {
         $net.EstablishedOutbound = $established
     } catch { $net.EstablishedOutboundError = $_.Exception.Message; $net.EstablishedOutbound = @() }
 
-    # HOSTS file
+    # HOSTS file (read via .NET to avoid PSObject metadata baggage in Get-Content output;
+    # Get-Content lines carry PSDrive/Provider reflection refs that ConvertTo-Json explodes into 40+ MB)
     try {
         $hostsPath = "$env:windir\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"
-        $hostsContent = Get-Content $hostsPath -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
-        $hostsActive = @($hostsContent | Where-Object { $_ -and ($_ -notmatch '^\s*#') -and ($_.Trim() -ne '') })
+        $hostsLines = if (Test-Path $hostsPath) { [System.IO.File]::ReadAllLines($hostsPath) } else { @() }
+        $hostsActive = @($hostsLines | Where-Object { $_ -and ($_ -notmatch '^\s*#') -and ($_.Trim() -ne '') } | ForEach-Object { [string]$_ })
         $net.HostsFile = [ordered]@{
             ActiveEntryCount = $hostsActive.Count
             ActiveEntries = $hostsActive