Avast 2015 Uncontrolled Update

Is it possible to downgrade from 2015 back to 2014 without a clean removal?

Problem:

I specifically set Avast 2014 program update to “MANUAL” so it would not download and install 2015 without my input. Turned on the PC, logged on and walked away today and when I came back Avast wanted a reboot. It downloaded and installed 2015 u[/u] which I did not want at this time because of it’s slow functionality. Now the whole PC is slow and web pages load slow even with some of the scan options disabled. This wasn’t a problem in 2014 version hence is why I didn’t want the update as I’ve seen the issues on a few friends PC’s that updated to 2015.

So… am I looking at using the Clean Tool and reinstall 2014 and if so how do I prevent Avast 2014 from updating the program version (as setting update option to manual didn’t work)?

Version it updated to: AVAST 2015 (2015.10.3.2223)

note Avast 2014 has been throwing popups for awhile about updating the program version which I always just declined but something has changed to force this update today.

See: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=173075.0

Thanks for the quick reply Asyn. Looking/researching at Panda 2015 now so I might go that direction on replacement since it’s a no choice option for Avast…thanks again.

You’re welcome.

From what I understand, this “forced” update is only happening when the OS is eligible to be upgraded to Windows 10.
I have Avast Internet Security version 8 on a Windows 7 netbook, program updates set to manual, and recently got the attached message.
Does this mean I’ll receive the forced update treatment too?
If so, is there a way of blocking it?

Vladimyr,

I don’t think you can block it and if they are going to discontinue support for 2014 then yes. As for your statement on Windows 10 I don’t think that’s the issue. I did get the Windows 10 upgrade option with a windows update but I removed it’s control files and entries and selected the “Hide Update” option on Windows update so Avast had no way to check if the OS was eligible unless it’s just checking which version your running now and is not based on that.

I also had 2014 set to “Manual” so they must be bypassing that setting and installing anyway. You can try blocking Avast’s command and control server using a firewall but then you’ll have issues with getting the virus definition updates and if they are truly not supporting any other versions then it’s kind of pointless.

Version 8 on Windows 7… ???
End of support :
https://blog.avast.com/2015/05/06/support-for-older-avast-windows-consumer-version-will-end/

Does this mean I'll receive the forced update treatment too? If so, is there a way of blocking it?
Did you even read the posts form the avast people in the link Asyn gave you ?

Eddy, the contributions of most users in this matter have been helpful and informative.
In future, please consider silence as a first option.