Burner Phones

Luckily, Venezuelans, for the most part, tend to use prepaid SIM cards when using mobile phones, facilitating the easy switch from mobile device to mobile device. If however, opposition leaders prefer to use smart phones for communication, there exist applications that can be used to create the illusion that a mobile phone user is calling from many different phone numbers, making a connection between two individuals difficult to trace. Additionally, individuals can use a virtual private network (VPN) to mask their IP address, allowing them to make untraceable calls with applications such as google voice, which assigns a user a phone number that is not technically linked to an actual phone number. All that is necessary is a fake email address, which is very simple and cheap to create.

Hardened Browsers

Opposition leaders can be easily identified once they log onto Facebook or Twitter from a particular location using a default browser, like safari. A cost effective solution to this problem would be to convince owners of cybercafés to install Tor or PGP encryption services on their computers for users to use freely if they desire. This is a simple and cheap solution. Using a hardened web browser like for, or even firefox with the appropriate add ons, can make a huge difference in maintaining anonymity in the digital world. Educating opposition leaders in ways to cheaply, freely communicate without having to look over their shoulder could fundamentally change Venezuela's situation for generations to come.