This some of the worst most useless advice I ever heard. The Wasp spray is the only legitimate mention.
WE have a mobile alarm system. Weighs 10 pounds and goes by the moniker Coco. Never misses a sound. Can she protect us? No, that’s Mr. Mossberg’s job.
No, Georgia, wasp spray is not even worth a mention, much less "legitimate." The active ingredient Pyrethrins, which are insect nerve agent poisons for insects, are only mildly poisonous to humans and are OK for topical application and simply are not effective in stopping intruders. They are, at best, an irritant that may just make the attackers angry enough to kill you when they merely intended to rob you. They will not incapacitate or temporarily blind them like Pepper spray will. The use of wasp spray, even though Snopes gives it a liberal pass, is an urban legend. If you don't want a gun, you need a very directional, good range (15-20 feet), capsaicin spray with a high Scoville rating, the higher the better. The cost of these is a reasonable $8 to $16.