ICS do i need to use a firewall and or antivirus ?

[Richard]

Unless the AV and firewall are causing significant problems leave them enabled. If you are accessing the Internet, use all the protection you can.

If you have to turn one off, turn it off on the laptop is you are using it purely for ICS. If you start using the laptop normally again, do thorough scans of the laptop for viruses and malware before doing anything serious on it.

I hope this helps.