--- a/core/src/com/biglybt/pifimpl/update/PluginUpdatePlugin.java
+++ b/core/src/com/biglybt/pifimpl/update/PluginUpdatePlugin.java
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ PluginUpdatePlugin
 
 		final PluginConfig	plugin_config = plugin_interface.getPluginconfig();
 
-		boolean enabled = plugin_config.getPluginBooleanParameter( "enable.update", true );
+		boolean enabled = plugin_config.getPluginBooleanParameter( "enable.update", false );
 
 		model.setConfigSectionID(PLUGIN_CONFIGSECTION_ID);
 		model.getStatus().setText( enabled?"Running":"Optional checks disabled" );
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ PluginUpdatePlugin
 
 		BasicPluginConfigModel config = ui_manager.createBasicPluginConfigModel(ConfigSection.SECTION_PLUGINS, PLUGIN_CONFIGSECTION_ID);
 
-		config.addBooleanParameter2( "enable.update", "Plugin.pluginupdate.enablecheck", true );
+		config.addBooleanParameter2( "enable.update", "Plugin.pluginupdate.enablecheck", false );
 
 		plugin_interface.addEventListener(
 			new PluginEventListener()
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ PluginUpdatePlugin
 		try{
 			if ( 	(!mandatory) &&
 					(ids_to_check == null ) && 	// allow custom actions through
-					(!plugin_interface.getPluginconfig().getPluginBooleanParameter( "enable.update", true ))){
+					(!plugin_interface.getPluginconfig().getPluginBooleanParameter( "enable.update", false ))){
 
 				return( num_updates_found );
 			}
-- 
2.44.2