diff --git a/docs/3.api/1.components/4.nuxt-link.md b/docs/3.api/1.components/4.nuxt-link.md
index 83bbff0950..287d8d94a4 100644
--- a/docs/3.api/1.components/4.nuxt-link.md
+++ b/docs/3.api/1.components/4.nuxt-link.md
@@ -57,7 +57,13 @@ In this example, we use `<NuxtLink>` component to link to a website.
 
 ## `target` and `rel` Attributes
 
-In this example, we use `<NuxtLink>` with `target`, `rel`, and `noRel` props.
+A `rel` attribute of `noopener noreferrer` is applied by default to absolute links and links that open in new tabs.
+- `noopener` solves a [security bug](https://mathiasbynens.github.io/rel-noopener/) in older browsers.
+- `noreferrer` improves privacy for your users by not sending the `Referer` header to the linked site.
+
+These defaults have no negative impact on SEO and are considered [best practice](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/lighthouse/best-practices/external-anchors-use-rel-noopener).
+
+When you need to overwrite this behavior you can use the `rel` and `noRel` props.
 
 ```vue [app.vue]
 <template>
diff --git a/packages/nuxt/src/app/components/nuxt-link.ts b/packages/nuxt/src/app/components/nuxt-link.ts
index 63f06dc2c4..b5ad9dbc68 100644
--- a/packages/nuxt/src/app/components/nuxt-link.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxt/src/app/components/nuxt-link.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import { nuxtLinkDefaults } from '#build/nuxt.config.mjs'
 
 const firstNonUndefined = <T> (...args: (T | undefined)[]) => args.find(arg => arg !== undefined)
 
-const DEFAULT_EXTERNAL_REL_ATTRIBUTE = 'noopener noreferrer'
 const NuxtLinkDevKeySymbol: InjectionKey<boolean> = Symbol('nuxt-link-dev-key')
 
 /**
@@ -229,7 +228,9 @@ export function defineNuxtLink (options: NuxtLinkOptions) {
       })
 
       // Lazily check whether to.value has a protocol
-      const isProtocolURL = computed(() => typeof to.value === 'string' && hasProtocol(to.value, { acceptRelative: true }))
+      const isAbsoluteUrl = computed(() => typeof to.value === 'string' && hasProtocol(to.value, { acceptRelative: true }))
+
+      const hasTarget = computed(() => props.target && props.target !== '_self')
 
       // Resolving link type
       const isExternal = computed<boolean>(() => {
@@ -239,7 +240,7 @@ export function defineNuxtLink (options: NuxtLinkOptions) {
         }
 
         // When `target` prop is set, link is external
-        if (props.target && props.target !== '_self') {
+        if (hasTarget.value) {
           return true
         }
 
@@ -248,7 +249,7 @@ export function defineNuxtLink (options: NuxtLinkOptions) {
           return false
         }
 
-        return to.value === '' || isProtocolURL.value
+        return to.value === '' || isAbsoluteUrl.value
       })
 
       // Prefetching
@@ -333,7 +334,7 @@ export function defineNuxtLink (options: NuxtLinkOptions) {
         // converts `""` to `null` to prevent the attribute from being added as empty (`href=""`)
         const href = typeof to.value === 'object'
           ? router.resolve(to.value)?.href ?? null
-          : (to.value && !props.external && !isProtocolURL.value)
+          : (to.value && !props.external && !isAbsoluteUrl.value)
               ? resolveTrailingSlashBehavior(joinURL(config.app.baseURL, to.value), router.resolve) as string
               : to.value || null
 
@@ -342,10 +343,16 @@ export function defineNuxtLink (options: NuxtLinkOptions) {
 
         // Resolves `rel`
         checkPropConflicts(props, 'noRel', 'rel')
-        const rel = (props.noRel)
-          ? null
+        const rel = firstNonUndefined<string | null>(
           // converts `""` to `null` to prevent the attribute from being added as empty (`rel=""`)
-          : firstNonUndefined<string | null>(props.rel, options.externalRelAttribute, href ? DEFAULT_EXTERNAL_REL_ATTRIBUTE : '') || null
+          props.noRel ? '' : props.rel,
+          options.externalRelAttribute,
+          /*
+          * A fallback rel of `noopener noreferrer` is applied for external links or links that open in a new tab.
+          * This solves a reverse tabnapping security flaw in browsers pre-2021 as well as improving privacy.
+          */
+          (isAbsoluteUrl.value || hasTarget.value) ? 'noopener noreferrer' : ''
+        ) || null
 
         const navigate = () => navigateTo(href, { replace: props.replace })