Relationship Between the Noopener and Noreferrer Attributes
The noreferrer is closely related to the noopener opener link attribute. The noopener link attribute is an HTML link attribute that prevents a newly opened window from controlling the previous window using the window.opener property.
The noopener attribute is a security-focused feature that prevents the new page from accessing, tampering with, or manipulating the content and URL of the previous page. However, the noreferrer attribute also causes a link to behave as if it contains a noopener link attribute.
So, many bloggers use the noreferrer link attribute instead of the noopener attribute because it performs the same security functions as noopener while also preventing the browser from identifying the source of the click. However, some bloggers use both attributes together for added security.
<a href="https://example.com" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click here</a>
Importance of the Noreferrer Attribute
The noreferrer attribute does not have any consequences for your SEO. Your links can still pass link equity と ページランク as they usually would. If you do not want a link to pass link equity and PageRank, then you should add the nofollow link attribute.
The noreferrer attribute only improves the privacy and security of your visitors. From the privacy perspective, it prevents the destination page from identifying the source of the click, thereby reducing tracking and protecting user data.
From the security perspective, the noreferrer attribute functions like the noopener link attribute. This allows it to protect the visitor from advanced security threats like tabnapping.
Tabnapping is a phishing attack in which a new tab accesses and changes the content and URL of the old tab. For example, if a visitor clicks on a link on their bank’s site, the new tab the link opens could change the URL and content of the old tab to a fake page that mimics the bank’s login page.
When visitors return to the old tab, they are prompted to log into the fake page, where their money and data are stolen. The noreferrer link attribute prevents this.
Potential Issues With the Noreferrer Link Attribute
While the noreferrer attribute helps to keep you secure and does not hurt your SEO, is it a good idea to add it to all your links? The answer is no.
The noreferrer prevents other bloggers from identifying the clicks originating from your own site. For example, グーグルアナリティクス reports clicks from URLs containing the noreferrer attribute as direct traffic.
If the link did not contain the noreferrer attribute, Google Analytics would have reported it as referral traffic, and your URL would have been listed as the referring URL. However, with the noreferrer attribute, the blogger would be unable to identify the source of the traffic.
They would think the visitor entered their URL directly into their address bar, or Google could not identify its source. As a result, these bloggers would not be able to find your content and reciprocate the link, which would cause you to lose out on valuable backlinks.
You should also avoid using the noreferrer attribute in your internal links, as it would cause your analytic report tools to misidentify the origin of your traffic. This could prevent you from understanding the performance and structure of your internal links, which could hurt your SEO strategy in the long term.
