Prevent updating of a specific package

dpkg

Put a package on hold:

echo "<package-name> hold" | sudo dpkg --set-selections

Remove the hold:

echo "<package-name> install" | sudo dpkg --set-selections

Display the status of your packages:

dpkg --get-selections

Display the status of a single package:

dpkg --get-selections | grep "<package-name>"

apt

Hold a package:

sudo apt-mark hold <package-name>

Remove the hold:

sudo apt-mark unhold <package-name>