I have been using avast free edition for a number of years now and very pleased by it but I have noticed two issues.
First issue is the anti virus updates are acting up, my settings are on auto update and up to the last few weeks all has been well but now I get days with no auto updates why? Just to add manual updating is working.
Second issue is I’m happy with the Sept 2013 program that dose not cause me problems and yet it keeps updating to the newer version which I don’t want as it has stuff on it of no interest to me. Every time I go back to the older version sooner or latter I’m getting the new one, why is this happening when I got the program update set to manual and not auto?
Some days there may well not be an auto update (infrequent), however, you should still be getting the streaming updates over and above the auto update/s. This would include the streaming updates you had previously received, so you shouldn’t be missing out.
Are you getting the streaming updates ?
Well Sept 2013 is a long time ago and even longer in terms of AV protection, etc. The fact that it has stuff that you don’t want (which you don’t mention) is more of a case of doing a custom install and select only those features/functions that you do want. Nor do you mention the problems that you did have; surely it would be better to try and resolve the problem than avoid the program version.
You don’t say what version you do have, but I don’t know why, when you have set Program updates to Manual (not Notify) that it still tries to update. Normally this might occur if a major issue is resolved and or an emergency update is in play.
But in all honesty I would recommend the latest version, 9.0.2018. Or there is currently a beta/RC version in play 9.0.2020 - see https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=151156.0 - with a regular update release due around the end of this month.