Back in November, I believe it was, my computer started routinely freezing up, requiring a manual shut down. After researching the problem some, I came across others of whom seemed to be suffering the same issue; the one constant was that we all noticed this problem began shortly after agreeing to update Avast. Reverting back to v2014.9.0.2008 did the trick, and, whilst I had hoped future versions would sort this, I hadn't looked into it since.
Earlier today, I got a pop-up, upon starting my computer, indicating that my Avast update would be complete once I click "Continue," with an option to opt in/out of a Google Chrome browser install (opted out, myself); with the only other option being to minimize, I obliged, checked the program version, and, sure enough, Avast had updated to v2014.9.0.2021, despite being set to "ask first" (as I had prior confirmed it was so set).
I'd have gladly left it, and had done, for a time, before the issue I was suffering last year resurfaced. After a number of tries, I was finally able to re-install v2014.9.0.2008, set it from "ask first" to "manual update," and even restarted a few times, to be sure everything would remain, with success. A little later on, however, I was greeted by the aforementioned pop-up, with the option to opt out of Google Chrome's browser installation, v2014.9.0.2021 installed, and my computer freezing problems resuming.
I can appreciate the concern of a few posting in here, but, certainly empathize with the OP and others expressing their frustrations at some of the responses seeming only to "put them through the paces," as it were. I think we can all agree that, all things equal, EVERYONE here would like to be using the latest version of Avast, and that it's likely long been our preferred anti-virus software.. so, there's no need to be on the defensive; remember that the people with which you are speaking are hamstrung, at the moment, with this problem, and are already a bit worn out from the bout.
Do Avast staff ever really respond to threads like these, anyway (honest question)?