Apps used to mask Syrian plans: court

A Melbourne man who allegedly tried to join the conflict in Syria was advised to use online messaging apps to avoid detection by authorities.

Amin Mohamed, 25, of Sunshine West, has pleaded not guilty to three charges of attempting to enter a foreign state to engage in hostile activities in September 2013.

In a recorded telephone conversation played at his Victorian Supreme Court trial on Tuesday, Mohamed and a second man discuss moving all their communication to the Viber app so they could avoid calling each other's mobile numbers.