Do all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs send you updates that totally mess up your computer?

Answer 1

Most anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are specifically designed to stop things from messing up your computer... but if you receive an update that then finds a problem which was in your computer beforehand, then removing it can be extremely difficult and it can leave little remnants of the malicious programs that keep looking for input and taking up memory, which in turn messes up your computer.

Answer 2

Not to my knowledge. They can come along at an inconvenient time, but you have the option of postponing the download until you're ready.