Bug#1009036: Use rel="nofollow" for links recognized in user messages

Max Nikulin <[email protected]> Wed, 6 Apr 2022 17:49:52 +0700
Newsgroups gmane.linux.debian.devel.debbugs
Message-ID <abb6bda4-7f0a-0f8f-3cb7-cb13f9376fd4__19571.4354211063$1649242286$gmane$org@gmail.com>
Package: debbugs

Please, consider adding the rel="nofollow" attribute to the links found 
in the text of user messages. Such value tells search engines that the 
link should not increase page rank of the target page. I hope, it will 
make debbugs sites less attractive for spammers, at least for those of 
them who try to promote some sites posting comments with links. The 
approach with <a rel="nofollow" href="...">...</a> links is used by 
various forum and blog engines.

Originally I asked administrators of debbugs.gnu.org concerning missed 
of "reply" mailto: links on that instance and they said that it is 
intentional change to avoid spam. I have no experience related to 
struggling with mail spam, however I have seen recommendations for web 
content to mark links in user comments as nofollow otherwise a site will 
be attacked by spammers. I have realized that that there is no such 
attribute on bugs.debian.org (or I was lucky to check only links to 
white-listed domains) and I have seen some spam messages in various reports.