Hmmm. Interesting thread.

Actually i do look for files under 1 MB sometimes ('bout 1 in 4 times if i had to guess), so for me, ignoring files is not a good option, not if i can find a better one.

Right, i'm aware that they modify there files regually, but so can we. Start with the biggest virus (851.7 i'm assuming) and go from there. To be clear, i'm not suggesting a database, per se, be kept, but rather use the network itself as the 'database'.
For example, if i deal a lot with [filename X plus some-other-stuff] and [filename Y plus-some-other-stuff] which is cluttered with [filename X] 851.7 and [filename Y] 851.7 then i would share just two files - [filename X (851.7) is a virus - DELETE] and [filename Y (851.7) is a virus - DELETE]. Then the idea is people would delete them and they would show up less on the peers and therfor the searches.
I could obviosly do more than just two files, but the point is i wouldn't have to get ALL of them. I would do a few, somebody else would do a few files, and somebody else a few other files, etc. etc. I realize it would have to be a group effort, but if it gained steam i think it could work, it's the inherent strength of the system to share a few files with many.

Granted, if "crap" is defind as anything that is not relavent to what your search is indending, then yes even those files would clutter other peoples searches, but MUCH less so than the virus files themselves. One '[filename] is a virus' file would replace countless 'virus' files.

I didn't know about bitzi, until just now. It sounds like a good idea but i think your right - that approach would be overwelmed because it is too centralized. Plus,it relies, just like forums, on the user knowing before hand what to do and doing it, which if most did, this wouldn't be as much of a problem.

Going back to the first point, if it is effective agianst the worst virus then people will naturally start doing it for others, and in the best case scenario (i'm dreaming i know ) people would "get the hang of things" and actully begin to spot the viruses as they appear and avoid DL them in the first place, halting the spread effectively.

What do you think? respond to me.