Mac App Store hosts lookalike clones of Muse, Instagram and VLC

Daring Fireball found copycat apps in the Mac App Store: Muse AI, App for Instagram and Video Player for VLC, mimicking Meta and VideoLAN products. The clones top search results, push expensive subscriptions and block users from closing the app until they pay.

• Muse AI copies Meta's Muse descriptions and screenshots almost verbatim
• App for Instagram blocks window closing and demands a subscription
• Video Player for VLC poses as VideoLAN's VLC
• The clones host privacy policies on sites.google.com