This has also soft-bricked my device more than once. I use a custom launcher, and Samsung apparently doesn't like that, so the system updates can get me stuck in a loop where the launcher repeatedly crashes.
There is no way at all to disable auto updates or stop the process once an update has been acquired. I've even tried blocking IPs in my router, but it seems to change addresses now and then. My only option is to just always keep WiFi off. It thankfully won't download over the cell network.
I'm never buying another Samsung product. I hate this phone more than I have any other piece of technology.
The idea that some company can at any moment force my device to download gigabytes of unknown data and run anything they want on my device without my knowledge or consent is just reprehensible. I paid over a thousand dollars for this piece of crap and I don't even own it. It's utterly ridiculous.
Every few weeks I get a new notification that the Samsung EULA has updated. I just dismiss them. It's not like it matters if I agree or not.
What are you going to get instead? I've been pleased with the Pixel line and have delayed updates for many weeks. It will just nag me with a popup every week or so but never forces. OnePlus I've also been very pleased with and have never even gotten a nag from them.
I can't decide what phone to replace it with. I love the idea of the pinephone but it's way too cheap. The other open source options are way too expensive.
The best option seems to be a Pixel device with a custom OS, but I'm loath to give google money.
Under no circumstances will I buy another phone that I can't run a custom OS on.