What it is
A link that opens a new tab without rel=noopener lets the new page access the opener via window.opener, a security and minor performance risk. Modern browsers default to it, but I set it explicitly. Security gap on new-tab links. Reverse-tabnabbing risk.
Why does missing rel=noopener on target=_blank matter for AI search?
Reverse-tabnabbing risk.
How do you fix it?
Add rel=“noopener”.
How do you find it on your site?
- Find links with target=_blank.
- Check whether they include rel=noopener, and noreferrer where wanted.
- Add rel=noopener to new-tab links.
- Re-check the links.
Which ranking and citation factors does it touch?
rel=noopener closes a tab-napping security hole on new-tab links. It is a small but standard safety detail.
What is the impact?
Low; security. Consensus (web security best practice).
What is the evidence?
rel=noopener is a standard security practice (web platform guidance). W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2
Frequently asked questions about missing rel=noopener on target=_blank
What does "Missing rel=noopener on target=_blank" mean?
Security gap on new-tab links.
How do you fix missing rel=noopener on target=_blank?
Add rel=“noopener”.