[gurkendoktor]

Which mobile & desktop OSes do that? The only software that automatically installs updates on my Apple gadgetry seems to be Google Chrome.

[mahyarm]

Google play services is one example. Any app can download executable code in the background without you realizing what is happening. Apple has some mechanisms of their own coded in if necessary.

[gurkendoktor]

Do you have more information on Apple's mechanisms? I can't find anything (and I'd like to turn them off :)).

[mahyarm]

You can't turn them off without jailbreaking, then you can download tweaks to turn them off. One I remember from years ago was the 'app blacklist' disabler.