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In most, if not all, Linux distros, you can force the use of passwords for auto-mounting USB memory devices. To manage or reduce password prompts, you can:

• Edit PolicyKit rules: You can create or modify PolicyKit rules to allow certain actions without a password. This involves creating a .policy file in the appropriate directory.
• Run Udiskie with elevated privileges: You can run Udiskie as a user with the necessary permissions, but this is generally not recommended for security reasons.
• Check Udiskie configuration: Review the Udiskie configuration files to ensure they are set up correctly for your use case.

Example- Edit PolicyKit rules for Udiskie:

Having Udiskie use PolicyKit (often referred to as polkit) to require a password for mounting USB drives can achieve a more strict and secure mounting approach:

1. Install Required Packages: Ensure you have udisks2 and polkit installed. You can install them using the following command:

   sudo pacman -S udisks2 polkit
   

2. Create a PolicyKit Rule: You can create a custom PolicyKit rule that requires a password for mounting USB drives. To do this, create a new file in the /etc/polkit-1/rules.d/ directory. For example, you can create a file named 99-usb-mount.rules:

   sudo nano /etc/polkit-1/rules.d/99-usb-mount.rules
   

   Add the following content to the file:

   polkit.addRule(function(action, subject) {
       if (action.id == "org.freedesktop.udisks2.filesystem-mount-system" &&
           subject.isInGroup("wheel")) {
           return polkit.Result.YES;
       }
   });
   

   This rule allows members of the wheel group to mount filesystems without a password, but you can modify it to require a password for all users.
3. Modify the Rule to Require Password: If you want to require a password for all users, you can adjust the rule like this:

   polkit.addRule(function(action, subject) {
       if (action.id == "org.freedesktop.udisks2.filesystem-mount-system") {
           return polkit.Result.AUTH_ADMIN;
       }
   });
   

   This will prompt for a password whenever a user tries to mount a USB drive.
4. Restart the Polkit Service: After creating or modifying the rule, restart the PolicyKit service to apply the changes:

   sudo systemctl restart polkit
   

5. Test the Configuration: Insert a USB drive and try to mount it. You should be prompted for a password.

By following these steps, you can ensure that all USB mounts require entering the password of a user in the wheel group or any other specified group. Adjust the rules according to your specific requirements.

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