First, an update. I am still testing the situation in #B above ("ask") with the current stable version. It took more than my default 4 hours (but much less than 8 hours), but a tray notification asking me to update finally showed up. I'm "assuming" it will be displayed "on time" from now on.
So now we are again only on the main issue: "Settings -> Status Bar -> Virus definitions version".I'll continue testing the "ask" (option #B above), by not applying the database updates (which is part of what I did before testing previous versions).
There is little point in making assumptions, first it is an area of 'what does the term mean' and then if it follows my understanding of it meaning out of date, then it is a case of what is considered out of date 1 day, 2 days, 3 days a week like the WSC/WAC.
Well, we already (somehow) agreed that Avast waiting 7 days (as Windows already does) just to show "unsecured" and an exclamation mark is already a risk.
There is no logical reason for Avast to purposely wait 7 days. Moreover, during 7 days the "your system is secured" message over Avast's tray icon is displayed, and this message is false (in the sense of the original intention of that message). If Windows wants to wait 7 days, let it; Avast shouldn't.
I know if you have the virus database out of date for a few days you are likely to get the avast tooltip 'Your system is not fully secured' when you hover over the avast tray icon. Or you may see that in the avastUI, Summary screen when opened, I have seen that in my netbook if I haven't used it foe a few days.
Though I can't recall the duration or if the yellow exclamation mark was displayed.
In the main GUI, I have seen it too, not after 7 days but immediately (when in "ask"). No exclamation mark and no "unsecured" over the tray icon though.
Well, clearly I am willing to test this, as I've been doing it for several releases now, but I don't think that waiting 7 days with no database update is useful (and I'm not going to feel "secured", in spite the tray message). At minimum, Avast Team should tell first "yes, it should work after x days / hours / updates / whatever situation triggers it".
But I'd say that I've seen users reporting that their database is not being updated. Of course, they say they discovered this "by accident", and they request help on how to resolve this issue. Whichever amount of time passed since their last database update, I have not seen any report mentioning the exclamation mark or some active tray notification from Avast about their system being unsecured. That's the whole point of this setting!!! And it's not effectively working.
So, whether this is only being triggered after 7 days (IMO, should be much much much less than that), or whether this setting is not working at all (very possible too), this should be corrected and improved.
I am still waiting for an Avast Team member to clarify this situation, and I think it is not *that much* to expect.