Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of software/security updates?

From	Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com>
Newsgroups	linux.debian.user
Subject	Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of software/security updates?
Date	2021-05-28 20:50 +0200
Message-ID	<CjPIu-83W-1@gated-at.bofh.it> (permalink)
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Hello,

Thanks for your help and time. I really appreciate it.

> Sent: Friday, May 28, 2021 at 8:06 PM
> From: "Greg Wooledge" <greg@wooledge.org>
> To: debian-user@lists.debian.org
> Subject: Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of software/security updates?
>
> More likely, it was brought in as a recommendation by some desktop
> environment.  One may use "aptitude why unattended-upgrades" to find
> out why it was installed, or more properly, why it's not being marked
> for autoremoval at the current moment.

I'm very certain that I didn't install it manually. In fact, during installation of Debian, I specifically chose the option to not upgrade/update software automatically.

The package "unattended-upgrades" might have been installed automatically because I installed a minimal Gnome desktop environment (I quite like using Gnome.)

Question: Instead of using "aptitude why unattended-upgrades" command, can I use "apt why unattended-upgrades"? I was told many years ago that the command "aptitude" was deprecated.

> However, if the package is marked as a *dependency* of some desktop
> environment, rather than simply a recommendation, then purging the
> undesired package may also try to remove the desktop environment
> metapackage.  And some people panic when that happens, because they
> don't understand that a metapackage is not critically important.

Question: What command can I type in a terminal to find out if the package "unattended-upgrades" is a *dependency* of some other packages?

Yeah, I do panic when any metapackage of my Gnome desktop environment is removed. Why? My knowledge of computing and Debian is elementary.

Question: What do you mean by "a metapackage is not critically important"? Would you like to elaborate please?

>
> (And then it gets even more complicated when you consider autoremove,
> because removing the placeholder metapackage may free up various other
> pieces of the desktop environment -- ones that actually *do* something --
> to be marked for autoremoval.  And that's not desired.)

Thanks for your explanation.
>
> (Personally I solve all of that by disabling autoremoval.  But that's
> just me, and most people seem to like it.)

I wish to improve my knowledge of computing. How do I disable autoremove? What is the command to be typed in a terminal?

Thread

How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-25 19:30 +0200
  Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Kenneth Parker <sea7kenp@gmail.com> - 2021-05-25 21:10 +0200
    Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-25 22:50 +0200
      Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-05-25 23:00 +0200
        Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-25 23:10 +0200
      Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Keith Bainbridge <keithrbaugroups@gmail.com> - 2021-05-26 01:50 +0200
        Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Jeremy Ardley <jeremy@ardley.org> - 2021-05-26 04:00 +0200
          Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-26 05:00 +0200
        Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-26 03:40 +0200
          Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Keith Bainbridge <keithrbaugroups@gmail.com> - 2021-05-26 06:00 +0200
          Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? l0f4r0@tuta.io - 2021-05-26 14:30 +0200
            Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-27 08:50 +0200
            Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? l0f4r0@tuta.io - 2021-05-27 22:10 +0200
              Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-28 02:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-05-29 08:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-29 19:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-05-30 09:40 +0200
              Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? l0f4r0@tuta.io - 2021-05-28 13:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-05-28 14:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-28 20:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-05-28 21:00 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-29 01:40 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-05-29 09:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? l0f4r0@tuta.io - 2021-05-29 11:30 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-30 13:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-05-30 15:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Charles Curley <charlescurley@charlescurley.com> - 2021-05-30 15:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> - 2021-05-30 17:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? l0f4r0@tuta.io - 2021-06-02 09:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-02 13:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? l0f4r0@tuta.io - 2021-06-02 13:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-02 18:30 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Reco <recoverym4n@enotuniq.net> - 2021-06-02 18:40 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-06-02 19:00 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of          software/security updates? Linux-Fan <Ma_Sys.ma@web.de> - 2021-06-02 21:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-06-02 21:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-03 21:20 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-06-03 04:00 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-04 02:20 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? "Thomas D. Dean" <tomdean@wavecable.com> - 2021-06-04 04:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-04 08:20 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? "Thomas D. Dean" <tomdean@wavecable.com> - 2021-06-04 12:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-04 12:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2021-06-04 17:40 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-06-04 14:00 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Polyna-Maude Racicot-Summerside <debian@polynamaude.com> - 2021-06-04 14:40 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2021-06-04 17:40 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Reco <recoverym4n@enotuniq.net> - 2021-06-04 15:30 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-06-04 19:40 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-03 04:00 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-05-29 15:00 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-30 12:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-30 13:20 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? <tomas@tuxteam.de> - 2021-05-30 13:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-30 13:00 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-28 20:30 +0200
              Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? l0f4r0@tuta.io - 2021-05-28 14:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-29 01:40 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-01 19:30 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> - 2021-06-01 20:00 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Reco <recoverym4n@enotuniq.net> - 2021-06-01 20:10 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-01 19:20 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2021-06-01 20:30 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-01 13:20 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Reco <recoverym4n@enotuniq.net> - 2021-06-01 15:50 +0200
                Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2021-06-01 15:30 +0200
  Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Charles Curley <charlescurley@charlescurley.com> - 2021-05-25 21:20 +0200
    Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-25 23:00 +0200
      Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Charles Curley <charlescurley@charlescurley.com> - 2021-05-25 23:40 +0200
  Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-05-25 23:10 +0200
  Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com> - 2021-06-02 22:00 +0200
    Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? l0f4r0@tuta.io - 2021-06-02 22:10 +0200
      Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-03 21:10 +0200
    Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-03 03:50 +0200
      Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com> - 2021-06-03 22:20 +0200
        Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-06-03 22:30 +0200
        Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Stella Ashburne <rewefie@gmx.com> - 2021-06-04 02:10 +0200
          Re: How do I permanently disable unattended downloads of  software/security updates? Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-06-04 11:10 +0200

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