[intoverflow2]

It is by default I'm actually sitting on a fresh install as of a week ago on my work machine.

It probably retains a legacy setting if you updated but this is straight from Apple. I never even knew that preference box existed.

[oneplane]

It will actually both make a notification popup on "turning on automatic updates" which then directs you to a settings panel where you manually have to check the box.

[cjsuk]

Mine is a fresh install of the same vintage.