For reasons similar to those given just above, DC/NS does not time-stamp every e-mail message. The time, recorded in the message header, is put inside the message by the computer from which the message originates. Each machine through which delivery is routed will record its name and the time according to that machine's clock. There may be no DC/NS computers involved, at all, in delivering the message to you. If any of the computer's clocks are wrong (and there are many computers out there with incorrect time settings) you will get an inaccurate time stamp. There may be true delays during mail delivery. Typical delays can be caused by:
- Some e-mail servers are configured to send messages out only every 15 minutes, or every 3 hours, or after midnight ...., so that the message might have been held on its way to you, on purpose.
- If any of the machines between the sending computer and your e-mail server are temporarily off-line, there could be up to a three day delay due to problems between sender and receiver.