diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index a7cddad1..ad408bbb 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -16,10 +16,7 @@
   <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="images/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32"/>
   <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="images/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16"/>
   <link rel="canonical" href="https://azgaar.github.io/Fantasy-Map-Generator/">
-
-  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="index.css?version=1.1.09"/>
-  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="icons.css?version=1.1.09"/>
-  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="libs/jquery-ui.css"/>
+  <link rel="preload" href="index.css?version=1.1.09" as="style" onload="this.onload=null; this.rel='stylesheet'">
 </head>
 <body>
   <svg xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" version="1.1" id="map" width="100%" height="100%">
@@ -3225,6 +3222,9 @@
     <input type="file" accept=".json" id="styleToLoad">
   </div>
 
+  <link rel="preload" href="icons.css?version=1.1.09" as="style" onload="this.onload=null; this.rel='stylesheet'">
+  <link rel="preload" href="libs/jquery-ui.css" as="style" onload="this.onload=null; this.rel='stylesheet'">
+
   <script src="libs/jquery-3.1.1.min.js"></script>
   <script src="libs/d3.min.js"></script>
   <script src="libs/priority-queue.min.js"></script>
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 97639f46..8e0be171 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -192,8 +192,7 @@ function loadMapFromURL(maplink, random) {
 
 function showUploadErrorMessage(error, URL, random) {
   console.error(error);
-  alertMessage.innerHTML = `
-    Cannot load map from the <a href='${URL}' target='_blank'>link provided</a>.
+  alertMessage.innerHTML = `Cannot load map from the ${link(URL, "link provided")}.
     ${random?`A new random map is generated. `:''}
     Please ensure the linked file is reachable and CORS is allowed on server side`;
   $("#alert").dialog({title: "Loading error", width: "32em", buttons: {OK: function() {$(this).dialog("close");}}});
@@ -316,12 +315,16 @@ function applyDefaultBiomesSystem() {
 }
 
 function showWelcomeMessage() {
-  const link = 'https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyMapGenerator/comments/daf6g2/update_new_version_is_published_v_11'; // announcement on Reddit
-  alertMessage.innerHTML = `The Fantasy Map Generator is updated up to version <b>${version}</b>.
-    This version is compatible with <a href='https://github.com/Azgaar/Fantasy-Map-Generator/wiki/Changelog' target='_blank'>previous version</a>, 
-    loaded <i>.map</i> files will be auto-updated.
+  const post = link("https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyMapGenerator/comments/daf6g2/update_new_version_is_published_v_11", "Main changes:"); // announcement on Reddit
+  const changelog = link("https://github.com/Azgaar/Fantasy-Map-Generator/wiki/Changelog", "previous version");
+  const reddit = link("https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyMapGenerator", "Reddit community");
+  const discord = link("https://discordapp.com/invite/X7E84HU", "Discord server");
+  const patreon = link("https://www.patreon.com/azgaar", "Patreon");
 
-    <ul><a href=${link} target='_blank'>Main changes:</a>
+  alertMessage.innerHTML = `The Fantasy Map Generator is updated up to version <b>${version}</b>.
+    This version is compatible with ${changelog}, loaded <i>.map</i> files will be auto-updated.
+
+    <ul>${post}
       <li>Lake Editor</li>
       <li>Coastline Editor</li>
       <li>New lake groups (types)</li>
@@ -333,11 +336,8 @@ function showWelcomeMessage() {
       <li>Map loading from URL</li>
     </ul>
 
-    <p>Join our <a href='https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyMapGenerator' target='_blank'>Reddit community</a> and
-    <a href='https://discordapp.com/invite/X7E84HU' target='_blank'>Discord server</a>
-    to ask questions, share maps, discuss the Generator, report bugs and propose new features.</p>
-
-    <p>Thanks for all supporters on <a href='https://www.patreon.com/azgaar' target='_blank'>Patreon</a>!</i></p>`;
+    <p>Join our ${reddit} and ${discord} to ask questions, share maps, discuss the Generator, report bugs and propose new features.</p>
+    <p>Thanks for all supporters on ${patreon}!</i></p>`;
 
   $("#alert").dialog(
     {resizable: false, title: "Fantasy Map Generator update", width: "28em",
diff --git a/modules/save-and-load.js b/modules/save-and-load.js
index 78abbf78..40bdf458 100644
--- a/modules/save-and-load.js
+++ b/modules/save-and-load.js
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ async function saveMap() {
 // download map data as GeoJSON
 function saveGeoJSON() {
   alertMessage.innerHTML = `You can export map data in GeoJSON format used in GIS tools such as QGIS.
-  Check out <a href="https://github.com/Azgaar/Fantasy-Map-Generator/wiki/GIS-data-export" target="_blank">wiki-page</a> for guidance`;
+  Check out ${link("https://github.com/Azgaar/Fantasy-Map-Generator/wiki/GIS-data-export", "wiki-page")} for guidance`;
 
   $("#alert").dialog({title: "GIS data export", resizable: false, width: "32em", position: {my: "center", at: "center", of: "svg"},
     buttons: {
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ function uploadMap(file, callback) {
     const mapVersion = data[0].split("|")[0] || data[0];
     if (mapVersion === version) {parseLoadedData(data); return;}
 
-    const archive = "<a href='https://github.com/Azgaar/Fantasy-Map-Generator/wiki/Changelog' target='_blank'>archived version</a>";
+    const archive = link("https://github.com/Azgaar/Fantasy-Map-Generator/wiki/Changelog", "archived version");
     const parsed = parseFloat(mapVersion);
     let message = "", load = false;
     if (isNaN(parsed) || data.length < 26 || !data[5]) {
diff --git a/modules/utils.js b/modules/utils.js
index 12a99f9c..77f1463f 100644
--- a/modules/utils.js
+++ b/modules/utils.js
@@ -551,11 +551,6 @@ function parseError(error) {
   return errorParsed;
 }
 
-// open URL in a new tab or window
-function openURL(url) {
-  window.open(url, '_blank');
-}
-
 // polyfills
 if (Array.prototype.flat === undefined) {
   Array.prototype.flat = function() {
@@ -581,9 +576,14 @@ function getAbsolutePath(href) {
   return link.href;
 }
 
+// open URL in a new tab or window
+function openURL(url) {
+  window.open(url, '_blank');
+}
+
 // wrap URL into html a element
 function link(URL, description) {
-  return `<a href="${URL}" target="_blank">${description}</a>`
+  return `<a href="${URL}" rel="noopener" target="_blank">${description}</a>`
 }
 
 // localStorageDB
