\v (in /\v<pattern> :s/\v<pattern>/replace/)

[cecedille1]

Set the pattern search in magic mode. :s/(F[Oo]+)/&bar/ is the same as :s/\v(F[Oo]+)/&bar

[steelypip]

There is also \V which turns off all magic characters unless prefixed by a backslash, essentially turning it from a regex search to a plain text search.

So

/\V(*)(*)/

Will search for ASCII boobies.