Paranoia Error Correction writes a small recovery file next to any file and later checks every block of the original and rebuilds whatever was damaged: scattered corruption (bit rot), bad sectors, a failing USB stick, a truncated copy, or bytes cut out of or inserted into the middle. Several damaged copies of one file can be combined into an intact one.
The file itself is never changed, encrypted or packed into an archive.
Built for large files such as local AI models, disk images and video: on a modern desktop it creates recovery data at about 1.5 GB/s and verifies at over 20 GB/s, with flat memory use however large the file.
Commands: pec (command line) and pec-gui (a window with drag and drop that shows the equivalent command line). Also: SHA-256 in the sha256sum format, and a check of the recovery file itself (scrub).
Recovery files are interchangeable with the Paranoia File Encryption apps (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS) and with pec for macOS and Linux.
Publisher’s description
What is Paranoia Error Correction?
Paranoia Error Correction is an open-source backup & recovery program for Windows from Paranoia Works.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit and ARM64 as Portable. The main installer is 9.1 MB. It runs without installation (portable).
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Updated in the last two months
- Small download (9.1 MB)
In short: Paranoia Error Correction is an open-source backup & recovery tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs.
Is Paranoia Error Correction safe to download?
- The file is served by paranoiaworks.com; check that it is the publisher’s official mirror
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
8E31E021B14BA2F0605A70A25E63CA8762B8E38F843DBAD66EB5F972AF9B21C8· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (November 6, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1.1Latest | November 4, 2026 | 9.1 MB | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id ParanoiaWorks.PEC -eProgram files (.exe): pec.exe, pec-gui.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Paranoia Works
- Category
- Backup & recovery
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 1.1.1
- Released
- November 4, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- November 4, 2026
- Versions listed
- 1
- Website
- paranoiaworks.mobi
- winget ID
- ParanoiaWorks.PEC
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Paranoia Error Correction free?
Yes. Paranoia Error Correction is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is Paranoia Error Correction safe to download?
The download comes from paranoiaworks.com; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Paranoia Error Correction with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does Paranoia Error Correction run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Can I use Paranoia Error Correction without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to Paranoia Error Correction?
restic, FastCopy, UrBackup Client, Recuva and Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows. The alternatives page compares them.
