Warning about critically low memory

[Android Central Question]

I bought a new Google Pixel 2 in August. This evening while using an app on my phone, a robot voice (not the Assistant voice) out of nowhere said that my phone was running on "critically low memory" and then the Google app store opened up to an app it suggest I download.

I instinctively shut everything down thinking it was phishing or something. But I just wanted to ask here if this is something I should be concerned about?

I was able to check and the average memory use in the last three hours is 2.5GB out of 3.8 GB. I have no idea what that means.

 

[bunnymetal]

same exact thing just happened to me (about five minutes ago.) im starting to wish i let the play store load fully so i could see what it was trying to get me to use... im on an LG G4 and my average memory usage is 2.5/2.8 (which, i guess is pretty high?) but the fact that it directed me to the play store unprompted makes me inclined to believe it was a scam of some sort. :U ive had this phone for about two years and i cant recall any time its done that.

 

[Rukbat]

It's a virus with a voice - that's a new one. How cute (and stupid).

Follow the standard procedures for getting rid of malware. (Google doesn't work like that - if free RAM is getting low, it kills an app to get more.)

 

[Jb1781]

I feel dumb asking this question but I don't think I've ever had malware on an Android phone... So what are the "standard procedures?"

 

[Hamstav]

It just happened to me with my Pixel XL. I immediately powered it down also. It did not happen again. I download all my apps from the play store. I don't think it's a typical virus. I suspect some app might have found a way to the permission to play something in the background.

 

[B. Diddy]

I feel dumb asking this question but I don't think I've ever had malware on an Android phone... So what are the "standard procedures?"

The first thing to determine is if this only happens while browsing. If so, that means it's a browser popup ad associated with the website that you were visiting -- the solution there is to avoid that website from now on.

If this is happening when you're using another app, or if you're on the homescreen, then it's probably adware that has been installed onto the phone along with some other app. You can try the steps here: https://forums.androidcentral.com/a.../901497-full-screen-ads-how-find-culprit.html

 

[Frank Lin]

This happened to my Galaxy Note 9 using chrome recently. It freaked me out even more that it happened when I was browsing some alien conspiracy theory website (just for the lols). I thought clearing Chrome data would solve it but it appeared a few days later, and this time on a legitimate news site (Global News). The Play Store "link" that opens is "Device Cleaner and Booster for Android". Not knowing the Google Play link could be fake I proceeded to "report" it, but now I realize when I search for this app I can't find it on the play store.

I've also seen similar reports of getting a "Video Player" Google Play popup on Slickdeals.

 

[Rukbat]

I feel dumb asking this question but I don't think I've ever had malware on an Android phone... So what are the "standard procedures?"

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and a good antivius app to start.

 

[decoy72]

By any chance are you using Hyperion Launcher? It's the only thing I've added recently and it is showing Google Play Vending running as one of the services. None of my other apps show that as a running service.

I hope it isn't as I love the launcher but won't put up.for any ads being served. Back to Nova I go.

 

[Iliketea]

Google Pixel 2 here and just happened to me.

I was on Messenger, hitting the Friends button (second button from the left on the bottom), when the voice came on and redirected me to Google Play Store for the app "Device Cleaner and Booster for Android" by the developer "android.developer.com@gmail.com".

 

[Iliketea]

I'm using Nova and I got it.

 

[curley]

happened to me while browsing Engadget websites. I think it's a hidden pop-up

 

[Mooncatt]

It's a virus with a voice - that's a new one. How cute (and stupid).

I'd be inclined to think it's a new type of adware, rather than a virus. Annoying either way, but thankfully I haven't seen it.

 

[Cscott6]

Hi All,
Same thing has happened several times now to my wife on her HTC One M9, and frustratingly most often happens when she's trying to put the baby to sleep and her phone is on silent!
I've installed Avast and it doesn't find anything.
I hope someone finds and shares a solution!

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! If the phone is on Silent, that might just be silencing ringtones/notification tones, but not Media volume. When you're putting the baby to sleep, turn down all volume sliders to be sure.

 

[isnoop]

This is indeed a new angle in spam. It gets in through one of the ad networks used by app makers to generate revenue.

My spouse and I have both had this happen. I immediately removed the one sketchy app I'd installed recently and the spam hasn't returned. She has several time waster games on her phone, any one of which could be responsible for the ad continuing to pipe up every few days.

 

[Frank Lin]

These were the three games I uninstalled, and so far the popup hasn't occurred again:
Tenkyu
Waves
Tomb of the Mask

I don't know which specific game caused it though.

 

[Frank Lin]

I spoke too soon. It happened again on Petapixel and the only apps I've installed recently were Screener, Pineapple Pen, Poweramp and Sound Assistant. Pineapple Pen is the only one that seems to be dubious in terms of ads, but I've had no problem with it before on my Sony Xperia Z5.

 

[Ampo2222]

Any luck getting rid of it? I even tried a factory reset and it came back a few days later.

 

[Ampo2222]

Still no culprit found for this? I usually get it while browsing myself. Thought I got rid of it with a factory reset but it came back. I'll try checking the running services thing suggested by mods here the next time it happens. Very annoying to say the least!