Turn Off Automatic Updates and/or Remove NAG popup from "Update Now" button

This really is kind of irritating. I have purchased the software but this NAG window about my out of date software is just TOO MUCH! I mean seriously, I get a patch applied and less than a week later I have a nag screen again telling me my software is, you guessed it, OUT OF DATE! ...Why, after paying good money to acquire the license, do I have to put up with the equivalent of a nag screen? The green button is QUITE SUFFICIENT in letting me know a new patch is available all by itself - but IT does not interfere with click selections as I move my mouse around the viewport, except to push that stupid annoying popup window in my way while I am working.
Please!!! ...for the Love of Pete! ...get rid of that popup that tells me my software is defective, or better still, give me the option to TURN OFF automatic updates! :-/