I think it's pretty clear none of this is making us safer. Some things that might make us safer without tormenting passengers are things they do in Israel, which is understandably extremely concerned with security measures that actually work. This is just from memory of an article I read a long time ago.

1. The have bomb proof boxes at the airport, that is each room is a separate bomb proof compartment. The airport is divided into lots of these box/rooms. If a bomb does go off, the damage it can inflict is limited. If a bomb is discovered, it can quickly be placed in it's own room and the whole airport doesn't need to be evacuated.

2. Professional profilers ask a few questions of each person and most importantly listen/watch how they are answered by each passenger. This is not a distracted airport employee asking if you packed your bag yourself, this a person trained in detecting potential terrorist behaviors/ reading body language. They claim this really does work.

There may have been some others, but none of them had to do with feeling your privates or looking at near- naked body scans of everyone.

A friend of mine was hustled off to the extra security room after he tried to defend an old man who was having his cane taken away, after which the elderly gent could barely stand up. My friend has decided never to fly again, and he travels all the time- now he drives.