First nothing should be deleted by default, this is either a user decision or changing the default actions ?

Is an old version of Office as older versions didn’t have a digitally signed word or excel executables ?

Not entirely sure what avast Shield, etc. is pinging this, but I suspect the autosandbox.
Just add the Word (and excel if the same with this) to the AutoSandbox Exclusions - File System Shield > Settings > AutoSandbox > Files that will be excluded from automatic sandboxing - see image, I had to add my two to the list.