Private Firewall 7 tells me that Avast emergency updates lack digital signatures. I find that the reactions of 3rd party firewalls to Avast’s emergency updates is sufficiently objectionable to remove Avast from all systems which do not use either Windows Firewall or Online Armor, both of which allow Avast emergency updates without query. Since Online Armor is on borrowed time (new installations of any version seem to have been suppressed since 31 May 2015), Emergency Updates make Avast deeply unattractive to non-tech users who simply want to use their computers.
Fortunately, AVG 2015 seems able to operate without making its presence constantly felt (with no irritating popups) so I am opting for its firewall/HIPS-friendly unobtrusive operation. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if Avast has designed Emergency Updates to undermine 3rd party firewalls.
C’est la vie!