Was this on a Compaq or HP machine? They used to, maybe still do?, ship with Backweb installed. It was used to download and install fixes, and generally increase customer "touch". It used to be possible to download the Backweb client and subscribe to news sources (really web sites under the covers) and receive regular updates. Kinda like RSS before RSS.

There are a few other ways Backweb could have been installed. Real used to include it as part of their Jukebox to deliver MP3s (part of the quicksilver service). Many other companies used it to deliver marketing messages and program updates to their customers.

Backweb started out as an internet advertising company back in the push days, remember Pointcast? They survived the backlash by going corporate. Their thing was to deliver information to those who needed it without them having to go get it. In the last couple of years they've morphed into offline portals. The information on your portal is available to you even when you're traveling or inside someone else's firewall. I know all this because I worked there for almost 3 years.

Does any of this sound like your situation?