First: have a look how AVAST4 was behaving! That was as expected.
To make it short: I want EVERY announcement of EVERY new virus database IMMEDIATELY - but only the announcement - and I install it (manually) AS SOON AS IT IS APPROPRIATE!
@Anacunga, have you read my "reply #13"? You get an announcement when a new database is released, but you CHECK for an update when you first connect to the Internet and every 4 hours after that.
I'll say it again. YOU ARE USING THE WRONG SETTING. IMO, you need to set the database update to "
manual", NOT "ask". Windows/Avast
should tell you that there is a new database available after the automatic "checking" (by telling you that you are NOT up-to-date), but you won't be "asked", so no instant answer would be requested from you.
If that is not what you want, then try the following settings.
You want to minimize the use of bandwidth? Then reduce the "checking". Instead of checking every 4 hours, set it to 12 hours. Twice a day is around the same frequency of actual database updates.
You want to minimize being bothered? Set the database updates either to "automatic" (recommended) or "manual" (NOT "ask"). Let's think about it for a moment. If you automatically "CHECK" only twice a day, and you automatically update the database twice a day, in most cases you won't be using the expensive bandwith (since you are not using that expensive connection permanently).
In addition of setting the database updates automatically, you can set the notifications in a way that won't bother you (read "reply #13" for the respective settings).
So, you get to minimize the use of expensive bandwidth, you are not bothered, and you remain updated/protected. It depends on the group/combination of settings.
In this latest proposed configuration, the only setting that might not be so well adjusted would be that when you first connect to this expensive connection, Avast might try to check (and update) anyway. As I said in my reply #13, I don't remember where this specific setting can be changed.
A firewall rule giving permission to Avast to connect ONLY under your "normal" (non-expensive) connection would be useful.
I personally haven't set the database updates to something other than automatic, so I'd have to play with it to find the "correct" setting that would let me be up-to-date but that won't bother me too much with full-screen notifications (that is, if my first suggestion in this post - "
manual" database updates - is not what you need/want).
About the "RED" icon in the tray area, it is the Windows Security Center advicing you that you are not yet up-to-date, since Avast has informed that a new database is available but not yet applied. If you set the database updates to "manual" (NOT to "ask"), then this is your "key" that you need to update manually when you decide it is the right time/connection.
And I want to set those settings once - and not change them anymore after it is set.
You are using your computer at least under 2 different situations. You want at least 2 different behaviours, but you want to set Avast just once.
That's why it is recommended to choose the "most common" and "effective" of those 2 situations, and an alternative solution is to add firewall rules to control the (different type of) connections.
And while the update is done, I don't need that big "update window (from the main program)" that is stealing focus.
Again, try the "manual" database update.
I haven't been in the need to set the database updates to "ask". If there is no combination of settings that allows you to continue your work (read my reply #13 about silent mode and notifications) without being bothered, then I guess I have no real answer. But, with so many available combinations of settings, it sounds at least strange.
It doesn't sound so "logical" to set Avast to "ask" but simultaneously to "don't bother me", but I understand that your "answer" when Avast "asks" could be given using a tray notification instead of a full-screen GUI. Have you played with the mentioned settings and suggestions to see if you get the result you want?