Prevent packages 'on hold' to show up when I upgrade

Pin a package version using Apt Preferences

1. Check current priority policy for my package, Example with virtualbox:

   $ apt-cache policy virtualbox
   virtualbox:
     Installed: 4.3.6-dfsg-1
     Candidate: 4.3.6-dfsg-2
     Version table:
        4.3.6-dfsg-2 0
           500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/multiverse amd64 Packages
    *** 4.3.6-dfsg-1 0
           100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
   

2. Create new file in /etc/apt/preferences.d/

   sudo vim /etc/apt/preferences.d/my_pin
   

3. Add package you want (joker * can be used), with higher priority (default 0, max 1000, or even negative value like -1 to skip a version)

   Package: virtualbox*
   Pin: version 4.3.6-dfsg-1
   Pin-Priority: 500
   

4. Check again:

   $ apt-cache policy virtualbox
   virtualbox:
     Installed: 4.3.6-dfsg-1
     Candidate: 4.3.6-dfsg-1
     Package pin: 4.3.6-dfsg-1
     Version table:
        4.3.6-dfsg-2 500
           500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/multiverse amd64 Packages
    *** 4.3.6-dfsg-1 500
           100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
   

5. No need to use hold, So sudo apt-mark unhold virtualbox but you could leave it as 2nd lock.

Now, if I check apt-get update, nothing is mentioned about about virtualbox (In held back packages listing).

• Reference: How to use APT Preferences Pinnig
• Hash sign # can be used to comment lines in APT Preferences files.