A former Marine and ethical hacker has developed a high-tech Bluetooth signal sniffer to aid in the search for Nancy Guthrie, who is believed to have a pacemaker with Bluetooth connectivity. The device, attached to a Pima County Sheriff's helicopter, has a range of up to 800 feet. David Kennedy, CEO of TrustedSec, explains that the sniffer's purpose is to locate Nancy's pacemaker, which has disconnected from her phone, indicating a newer model with Bluetooth capabilities. Kennedy's expertise lies in testing pacemakers' security, ensuring they cannot be hacked or drained. He created a software tool to detect Bluetooth low-energy devices, utilizing signal amplifiers and high-gain antennas to extend the range. Kennedy's testing involved attaching the sniffer to a drone, achieving an 800-foot scan range. He then offered assistance to law enforcement, deploying a colleague to Arizona for the search. Kennedy highlights the importance of Nancy's pacemaker being paired with her phone, allowing the sniffer to continuously attempt connection. He also addresses the challenge of MAC address randomization, a protection mechanism that can be unmasked using an identity-resolving key (IRK). Despite the challenges, Kennedy's latest project is an app to track Nancy's Bluetooth device, enabling the entire community to become scanning devices and aiding the FBI's efforts in the search.
