Hi,
in case you distrust your devices that much, I suggest to set up a dedicated machine (could be a Raspberry Pi or similar) for accessing IPFires web interface and/or SSH port. It does not need to be granted any access to the internet, except for downloading updates periodically.
The connection must have been made in an instant.
This could be a probe if the machine is connected to the internet (Android phones do so as well). Not necessarily harmful, but Apple is probably aware of your public IP now. On the other hand, since they effectively control the operating system you are running, they will most possibly find that out either way.
But then again, that is just the point of privacy and I don’t want that connection telling apple my start/stop and other operational activities.
The solution is simple albeit uncomfortable: Do not use your Apple device then. Needless to say, Microsoft is not better.
I’ve tor and vpn, but ipfire doesn’t accept those for accese to the interface.
I do not understand what you are trying to say. Are you attempting to access the web interface via Tor or through a VPN connection established to an external provider? Both won’t work, and there is no legitimate reason why it should.
(Please refer to this thread for further information why using a VPN provider is a bad idea.)
any idea where/what in the laptop that causes that connection?
Nope, sorry. You might find that out by snooping on the laptop itself, but with a closed-source operating system, I suspect there is little you can do.
Thanks, and best regards,
Peter Müller