1. avast scans http web pages/traffic before they are saved/displayed in your browser. However it should have no adverse effect unless you are on very fast broadband (100Mbps). I see no impact and my connections (on testing) is in the region of 37Mbps.
What other security software do you have installed, e.g. firewall, anti-spyware (previous AV), etc. ?
2. totally unrelated to avast, it doesn't change file attributes. The only files it would protect are its own program files.