What explanation have I been given?
I downloaded it - no I didn't
I didn't do an advanced install option and uncheck a pre-checked box - Not true I haven't downloaded any software
I installed it as part of of installing something else without realising - no I didn't, no downloads and installations have been done
Avast have made no attempt to contact me?
I have removed Avast from my system, but to do so I had to follow a process of downloading something from Avast in order to do that.
This forum and others are littered with people complaining about Avast installing unwanted and unrequested software, but it seems it is almost like a cult that people just defend them and claim that things are impossible.