Lathes.co.uk website now useless on phone

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>If the operator or this site reads the forum, please could you do something about the popup adverts that are now rendering it useless?</p>

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

…though it’s OK on a PC.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Oh dear,  is it because your PC has an ad-blocker and the phone doesn’t?  Maybe not, I’ve just accessed the site with my AdBlocker off, and it’s clean.

But, the default settings on a typical PC browser may be tougher than the phone equivalent.  On the phone look for a pop-up / redirect control in Site settings and set it to block.

My mobile phone isn’t clever enough to do web browsing cos I’m a cheapskate!

Dave

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

No problem on my Android phone, I just closed the couple of adverts that came up, same as I do on my PC

Small price to pay for such a useful resource.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Problem with IPhone 11.

the lathes screen is overlaid with

germina.de. Screen which Is static with lathes being scrolled underneath it.

bob (France).

 

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I closed the ads twice Jason then the close option disappeared.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Here’s what grok AI says in response to: why is lathes.co.uk filling my iphone with popups

Why You’re Seeing Popups on Your iPhone from lathes.co.uk
lathes.co.uk is a legitimate UK-based website run by Tony Griffiths, serving as a comprehensive online archive and resource for machine tools, lathes, manuals, and related technical literature. It’s been around for over 25 years and is widely referenced in machining communities (e.g., on forums like Practical Machinist and MIG Welding Forum). There’s no evidence from security scans, user reports, or malware databases that the site itself hosts viruses, phishing attempts, or malicious code—it’s rated safe by tools like Google Safe Browsing and Scamadviser.

That said, the popups you’re experiencing are a common browser annoyance, especially on iPhones where Safari (the default browser) can sometimes struggle with aggressive ad scripts or trackers. Here’s the most likely breakdown of what’s happening and how to fix it:

Possible Causes
Site-Embedded Ads or Popups: The site might use third-party ad networks or analytics tools (common for niche sites selling manuals and spares) that trigger popups, redirects, or overlay ads. On mobile, these can feel more intrusive due to smaller screens and auto-play elements. If you’re viewing image-heavy pages (e.g., lathe photos or catalogs), scripts could be loading external content that spawns popups.
Browser Settings or Cache Issues: Safari’s built-in popup blocker might be overwhelmed if the site uses sneaky JavaScript tricks (e.g., “popunders” or timed redirects). Cached data from previous visits can also replay old popups.
Not Device-Wide Malware: iPhones are highly sandboxed by iOS, making full-system infections rare without jailbreaking. If popups only happen on lathes.co.uk (not everywhere), it’s site-specific. If they’re appearing system-wide (e.g., during other apps), it could be adware from a shady app download or email attachment—check your installed apps via Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
No Widespread Complaints: Recent searches across web forums, Reddit, and X (Twitter) show zero reports of lathes.co.uk causing iPhone popups or malware as of November 2025. It’s praised for its free info but occasionally critiqued for pricey paid data packs.
Quick Fixes for Your iPhone
Try these in order—start with the simplest:

Enable/Refresh Popup Blocker in Safari:

Go to Settings > Safari.
Toggle Block Pop-ups to ON (if it’s off).
Under Privacy & Security, ensure Prevent Cross-Site Tracking and Fraudulent Website Warning are ON.
Clear site data: Tap Advanced > Website Data, search for “lathes”, swipe left, and delete. Then force-quit Safari (swipe up from bottom, pause, swipe away app) and reopen.
Use a Better Browser:

Download Firefox or Chrome from the App Store—they have stronger ad-blocking.
In Firefox: Install the “uBlock Origin” extension via the add-ons menu.
Pro tip: Run Firefox Focus (free) in the background—it auto-blocks trackers site-wide, even in Safari.
Ad Blocker Apps:

Install AdGuard or Wipr (one-time purchase, ~£2-£3). They filter ads at the DNS level without rooting your phone.
For free: Use NextDNS (customize via their app) to block ad domains.
If Popups Persist System-Wide:

Update iOS: Settings > General > Software Update (iOS 19+ has better ad defenses).
Scan for adware: Download Malwarebytes (free scan) or use Apple’s built-in tools.
Reset Safari: Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data (this won’t delete passwords if iCloud Keychain is on).
Site-Specific Workaround:

Access via desktop mode: In Safari, tap the “aA” icon in the address bar and select Request Desktop Website—mobile-optimized pages often have fewer popups.
If you’re after lathe info, try mirrors or PDFs from trusted sources like archive.org, but lathes.co.uk’s free sections are gold for hobbyists.
If these don’t resolve it, reply with more details (e.g., screenshot of a popup, when it started, or if it’s only on Wi-Fi). Could be a rare glitch—worst case, contact Apple Support or the site’s owner at [email protected] (he’s responsive per forum users). Stay safe out there; machining forums are full of sharp folks, but the web’s full of sharp ads!

Dave

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

What AI does not tell us above is that for some of these small non commercial sites like this and Homeworkshop is that the adds are what enable the individuals running them to keep the site going. If everyone starts blocking adds then the companies paying for them will stop that source of income  to the owners and you risk loosing the site due to the owner not being in a position to pay the running costs out of their pocket.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I’m increasingly feeling why the f*** should I have to bugger around doing all this idiotic stuff to get round these issues.  See this book by Cory Doctorow – title says it all.

[Lee RogersParticipant @leerogers95060]

The site is just fine as it is . Free but for that you have to put up with some adverts.

Tony Griffiths is the font of all knowledge re machine tools and a very decent chap to boot .

Would you prefer to pay for it?

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Just tried on Android, adverts tolerable

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

dont see anything annoying on my macbook

[JasonB]

On JasonB Said:

What AI does not tell us above is that for some of these small non commercial sites like this and Homeworkshop is that the adds are what enable the individuals running them to keep the site going. If everyone starts blocking adds then the companies paying for them will stop that source of income  to the owners and you risk loosing the site due to the owner not being in a position to pay the running costs out of their pocket.

Good point but I didn’t ask AI that question!   Here’s part of grok’s response to: is pop-up advertising effective?

Cons of Pop-Up Advertising

User Annoyance and High Dismissal: 83% of users find them intrusive, leading to immediate closes and frustration. Reddit threads echo this: users call them “despised” and “spammy,” with many vowing to avoid advertised brands.activecampaign.com

Technical and SEO Risks: Blocked by 40-50% of browsers/ad blockers; intrusive ones (e.g., full-screen on mobile) can penalize site rankings via Google’s Core Web Vitals. Mobile conversions drop if not optimized.roiads.co

Brand Damage: Perceived as low-quality or desperate, potentially harming trust. One X post likened them to “bogus pipelines” into users’ minds, calling for ad blockers. Unqualified leads waste [email protected]

Privacy Concerns: Some track users without consent, eroding trust.poperblocker.com

grok says web owners should maximise Return On Investment whilst minimising backlash.  Attractive content is the first requirement, but it’s important not to put visitors off by showering them with too much crass badly advertising.

Unfortunately, past misuse has led to many browsers blocking pop ups by default.  This is probably why Bernard, Duncan and Lee don’t realise there’s a problem.  Nanny is looking after them and me. If I want to allow popups, I have to turn off AdBlocker AND untick a Firefox permission:

Just had a stroll around lathes.co.uk and it seems clean to me, but maybe I haven’t unlocked all the doors yet!  Another possibility is lathes.co.uk was temporarily hijacked.  In addition to not annoying customers, web owners, and their security provider, have to keep on top of cybercrime, which includes using someone else’s website as an advertising platform.   So John’s bad experience may be nothing to do with lathes.co.uk or their adverts.

Dave

[VicParticipant @vic]

No problem for me with an iPhone running iOS 18, I just used Safari’s “Hide Distracting Items” feature. This feature is really handy, I use it quite a lot on my iPad. I hasten to add though that I don’t use a phone for browsing the web very often.

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

That site is seriously bugged anyway,  A load of my photo’s, most not published anywhere, have appeared on his site and the only place they are stored is on my Google drive. The photo’s on the page concerned make no sense and some are repeated.

I pointed it out and first he say’s he can’t see them and neither can his Son. I get others to check and they can see them so I get back to him and he say’s he can see them now and will remove them. Needless to say after 12 months they are still there

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I would not trust Google or Microsoft with any of my data. They are not secure and the owners do not care.

In fact MS wants to hold our own files presumably for its own commercial purposes, had indeed taken a lot of mine without my knowledge or permission; so it is not surprising someone has put your photos on a compromised web-site.

Why they should though, I cannot imagine.

Nor can I imagine why the Griffiths have not acted to remove yours.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

People often post on this and other forums and claim they have added a photo which people then say they can’t see. Actually they have posted some sort of local link that they can see on their own computer which will repeatedly make the picture look as though it is there even if it isn’t actually on the remote site.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it can work in reverse using remote hosting sites as ubiquitous as google have some odd effects creating phantom pictures when a link has inadvertently been shared. Equally some of the hosting sites have small print in the agreements allowing them to reuse your content. If this re-use includes an AI photo generation bot it might generate ‘legitimate’ pictures indistinguishable to a human from the source material.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Also if you have posted the photos anywhere else on the net such as in a forum post here then it is easy for anyone to copy them and use on their own or other peoples websites.

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