What's in the newer versions isn't just what you, and others, consider to be needless bloat. There are also improved detection and removal methods in each succeeding version. [...] It's pretty much true of all AV solutions. They have to keep getting better to try and keep up. The malware authors are continually looking for ways (and finding them) to get around detection methods so those methods have to evolve.
Hey Dch. I think anyone who has used computers for any length of time realizes this, not just about AVs, but all programs. The thing is (and what The Guard here refuses to understand, present company excepted), is that some of us are of the opinion any difference in real world performance between the version we prefer (7.0.1474 from 2012) and today's version would be marginal at best. IOW, v7 still does a good job and some of us are satisfied with any potential trade-off that might exist. If any. In fact, if you could quantify the actual difference in detection and cleaning rate, then weigh that against the chances of getting the exact types of infection(s) where that marginal improvement would make a difference... well that doesn't mean too much to people who never get infected anyway.
I understand the drive for some people to keep their software updated at all times. But not everyone feels that way. And it's funny that at least one of the staunchest supporters and most outspoken members here who have been attacking people who prefer to use a 3yr old version of AVAST, is himself using XP... an OS that is much less safe than W764, and extremely outdated. Yet it must serve his purposes and he must prefer it for his own reasons. And who am I to care if that choice ends up serving him or biting him in the behind? Fact is, I don't. It's his business what sftw he runs, and it's my business which sftw I run. But funny how he can't understand wanting to use older sftw for whatever reasons, when he himself does it.
Regardless, (and it's been said many times now)... AVAST has no right to update sftw when a user has the config set to manual only. If they want to stop supporting a version, the user should get a popup saying it will no longer receive db updates starting on a certain date. But it shouldn't be replaced by AVAST against a user's wishes.