Search abused by bots

Yes. Here’s how you can do keyword-based blocking, IP-based blocking would be similar, just look at $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] instead of $wp_query->query_vars['s'].

Even better if you can block access to the search on server level, without invoking WordPress at all.

Hello Mikko Saari,

thanks very much.
I do have cPanel access to my server, how should i block this on server level, do you have a link for me please?

Sorry, no, don’t really have a ready-made solution for that. If the searches come from a specific IP, here’s how you block by IP in .htaccess.