I had to learn about unattended upgrades.
The info is here
https://wiki.debian.org/UnattendedUpgrades
I checked if I had the necessary packages
nevj@trinity:~$ dpkg -l | grep unattended
ii unattended-upgrades 2.8 all automatic installation of security upgrades
nevj@trinity:~$ dpkg -l | grep listchanges
ii apt-listchanges 3.24 all package change history notification tool
So , Yes I have the packages installed
Now lets look at /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades
.....
Unattended-Upgrade::Origins-Pattern {
// Codename based matching:
// This will follow the migration of a release through different
// archives (e.g. from testing to stable and later oldstable).
// Software will be the latest available for the named release,
// but the Debian release itself will not be automatically upgraded.
// "origin=Debian,codename=${distro_codename}-updates";
// "origin=Debian,codename=${distro_codename}-proposed-updates";
"origin=Debian,codename=${distro_codename},label=Debian";
"origin=Debian,codename=${distro_codename},label=Debian-Security";
"origin=Debian,codename=${distro_codename}-security,label=Debian-Security";
// Archive or Suite based matching:
// Note that this will silently match a different release after
// migration to the specified archive (e.g. testing becomes the
// new stable).
// "o=Debian,a=stable";
// "o=Debian,a=stable-updates";
// "o=Debian,a=proposed-updates";
// "o=Debian Backports,a=${distro_codename}-backports,l=Debian Backports";
};
.......
There is supposed to be a line
Unattended-Upgrade::Mail "root";
It is not there
Now look at /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades
It is not present.
Therefore I think I do not have unattended upgrades configured.
I cant think of anything I have changed… other than a routine update/upgrade.
The phenomenon has not reappeared.
Regards and thanks
Neville