O.P.  Sorry if it's a repeat...
I am running both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger, 6.1. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I highly doubt it since this is the first time I have had this problem since '01. I had plus2 installed, and now 3, and the problem is persisting. When I open Messenger, Plus just doesn't run with it. I check my processes, and it says plus is running. I checked my startup, and plus is on there. I haven't done anything, even gotten rid of the sponsor stuff, to change anything. So I am not sure what's going on. Again, sorry if this is a repeat, I scanned over the first two pages, and didn't see this anywhere.
Has the paranoia gotten you yet? | 
